PRINCETON,  N.  J. 


5/5^^... 


BV  2947  .063  B66  1884 

?h2^f'/°''^^^"^'  1808-1889 
ine   life  and  work  of  the 

Rev.  G.  Theophilus  Dodds 


THE 


LIFE     AND     WORK 


KEY.   G.   THEOPHILUS   DODDS, 


"Et  de  Hieru.sulyniis  et  de  Britaunia  u.'ijualiter  patet  aula 
coelestis." — Jekome,  Ep.  ad  Paidinum. 

"  Si  computes  aniios, — exiguum  tcuipus  :  si  vices  reiuui, — levum 
putes.  Quod  potest  esse  documento,  nihil  desperare,  uulli  rei  fidere, 
quum  videamus  tot  vaiietates  tarn  volubili  orbe  circumagi." — Pliny 
(the  less),  iv,  24. 


THE 


LIFE    AND    WORK 

OF  THE 

REV.  G.  THEOPHILUS  DODDS, 

MISSIONARY 

IN  CONiXKCTIOxN  WITH  THE  M^ALL  MISSION,  FRANCE. 


HORATIUS^BONAR,  D.D. 


"Nul  de  nous  ne  vit  pour  lui  mStne,  et  nul  ne  meurt  pour  lui  mfime.  Car  si  nous 
vivons  nous  vivons  pour  le  Seigneur  ;  ec  si  nous  mourons,  nous  mourons  pour  le 
Seigneur  " — Rom    xiv    7.  8. 


NEW   YORK: 
ROBERT    CARTER    AND    BROTHERS, 

530   BROADWAY. 
1884. 


PRIITGETCM 


THEOLOQIOilL 
PKEFACE. 


I  WRITE  tbiR  Memoir  in  the  hoi^e  that  it  may 
be  useful  in  such  ways  as  the  following : — 
I.  It  may  help  to  make  known  that  great 
and  gi'owing  Mission,  which  though  only  begun 
twelve  years  ago,  numbers  above  eighty  stations 
throughout  France  in  full  operation.  The  interior 
workings  of  that  peculiar  enterprise  are  here  brought 
to  light  in  the  brief  story  of  one  of  its  chief  agents. 
The  inner  life  of  the  Mission  is  the  true  exponent 
of  its  aim  ;  and  it  is  worthy  of  being  studied. 

II.  It  will  preserve  the  memory  of  one  who,  though 
dying  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-two,  did  a  true  work 
for  God  in  France,  "  spending  and  being  spent ; " 
toiling  early  and  late,  not  counting  his  life  dear  to 
him,  till,  after  five  years  of  toil,  he  sank  down 
exhausted  on  the  harvest-field,  amid  the  sheaves 
which  he  had  been  reaping. 

III.  It  will  appeal  to  the  young  men  of  our  own 


vi  Preface. 

land,  especially  to  our  .students :  stimulating  them  to 
undertake  great  things  for  Christ  in  the  prime  of 
their  manhood ;  teaching  them  also  to  abjure  earthly 
ambitions  and  mere  literary  distinctions;  rebuking  the 
love  of  fame,  and  gold,  and  honour ;  awakening  them 
to  self-denial,  and  dedication  of  all  that  they  possess 
to  Him  whom  they  call  Lord  and  Master ;  lifting 
them,  it  may  be,  to  a  higher  platform  both  of 
character  and  duty. 

IV.  It  will  appeal  not  only  to  our  students,  but  to 
their  instructors.  How  much  the  maturer  life  of  a 
young  man  is  shaped  by  his  Professors !  And  this 
not  only  in  regard  to  sound  doctrine,  but  as  to 
fervour  and  zeal.  Coldness  is  not  a  negation.  It 
tells  most  actively  on  all  who  come  near  it.  So 
warmth  is  infectious.  It  radiates  on  every  side, 
apart  altogether  from  eloquence,  or  logic,  or  learning. 

The  French  proverb,  "  Many  hands,  easy  work," 
has  not  yet  been  realised  in  the  Paris  Mission.  It  is 
still  "short-handed,"  very  much  "undermanned." 
Recruits  are  slow  in  offering  themselves;  and  yet 
the  work  increases.*     Perhaps  the  picture  I  have 

*  Mr.  Doclds,  in  one  of  his  letters  from  Lyons,  after  mentioning 
the  invitations  from  numerous  places  in  France,  adds,  "It  is  a 
grand  thing  to  see  a  country  awakening  and  seeking  the  Gospel. 
I  only  wish  there  were  labourers  enough  to  respond  to  all  these  calls. 


Preface.  vii 

drawn  may  deter  some.  Still  the  truth  must  be 
stated,  and  the  cost  must  be  counted ;  though  it  has 
not  always  to  be  so  sadly  paid  as  in  the  case  of  Mr. 
Dodds.  Yet  the  prospect  of  laborious  days  wdll 
not  stumble  the  earnest,  and  it  will  stimulate  the 
brave.  Oftentimes  the  weary  workers  have  felt  what 
Edwards  tells  of  his  experience, — "  How  sweet  it  was 
to  work  all  day  for  God,  and  to  lie  down  at  night 
under  His  smile."  So  did  this  weary  worker  feel, 
when,  after  his  five  years  of  toil,  he  lay  down  in  the 
loneliness  of  Buisson  Luzas  to  "rest  from  his 
labours,"  under  the  smile  and  in  the  home  of  God. 

As  M.  Reveillaud's  name  occurs  frequently  in  the 
following  pages,  I  should  like  to  give  an  extract 
regarding  him  from  an  American  journal.  From  the 
time  of  his  remarkable  conversion  some  years  ago, 
Mr.  Dodds  was  very  strongly  drawn  to  him,  and 
looked  to  him  as  one  destined  to  take  no  common 
part  in  the  future  religious  history  of  France.  An 
American  journalist  thus  writes : — 


I  fear  we  shall  have  to  train  up  a  generation  of  young  evangelists. 
Reveillaud  told  us  as  much  the  other  day.  French  congregations, 
with  a  few  exceptions,  lack  life.  They  think  they  have  fulfilled 
their  religious  duties  when  they  go  to  '  la  preche '  once  a-Sunday  ; — 
parties  and  dancing  being  perfectly  lawful  when  the  evening 
comes." 


viii  Preface. 

"  I  have  said  tliat  all  tlie  addresses  centred  around  the  one 
thought — more  men ;  perhaps  two  of  them  were  exceptions, 
and  they  were  among  tlie  most  notable  in  the  meetings.  The 
first  was  a  fifteen  minutes'  address  from  M.  Reveillaud,  of  whom 
Tlu  Christian  Union  gave  its  readers  some  account  last  week. 
M.  Reveillaud  is  a  man  of  middle  heiglit,  jet  black  hair,  fine 
presence,  clear  and  powerful  voice,  and  that  something  inde- 
scribable wliicli  we  call  magnetism.  Every  eye  was  fixed  on 
him  from  the  moment  he  was  introduced,  and  every  ear  was 
attentive  to  hear  liim,  though  he  spoke  in  a  language  unknown 
to  most  of  his  auditors.  He  was  translated  by  Mr.  Dodds, 
and,  quite  apart  from  the  moral  and  spiritual  fervour  of  the 
man  and  the  rhetorical  beauty  of  his  compact  sentences,  there 
was  a  singular  fascination  in  this  double  oratory.  The 
translation  was  so  apt  and  happy,  the  spirit  of  the  French 
was  given  so  admirably  and  in  so  elegant  an  English  that 
I  think  it  safe  to  say  that  a  more  extraordinary  piece  of 
extempore  translation  was  never  heard.  The  Frenchman 
carried  the  house  by  storm ;  and  some  of  his  ej)igranimatic 
sentences  will  be  carried  away  as  memorials,  by  all  Avho  heard 
him  ;  for  exami^le, — '  The  Frenchman  is  born  Protestant.' " 

When  I  began  to  write  this  Memoir,  I  projected 
only  a  small  volume.  But  materials  multiplied; 
statistics,  letters,  incidents  came  in  upon  all  sides, 
and  I  had  to  encounter  the  great  difficulty  of  com- 
pressing and  abridging  throughout.  This  was  espe- 
cially the  case  with  the  letters.  His  correspondence 
was  very  large,  both  public  and  private.  He  wrote 
with  great  facility  and  graphic  power.     Many  of  his 


Preface,  ix 

letters  are  long,  but  always  full  of  interest ;  for  he 
had  an  open  eye,  as  well  as  a  swift  pen.  A  consider- 
able number  were  to  myself;  but  these  I  have  used 
sparingly. 

Though  silent  he  yet  speaketh.  Though  dead, 
he  worketh  still  in  his  beloved  France.  Though 
departed,  he  is  still  amongst  us.  He  has  not  died 
in  vain;  nor  (whatever  we  may  think)  has  he  left 
us  too  early. 

If  what  I  have  written  should  speak  to  the  Christ- 
ian conscience  of  our  young  men :  if  this  record  of 
missionary  life  and  labour  should  quicken  our 
students  to  look  their  responsibilities  in  the  face, 
and  to  remember  that  they  have  but  ONE  life  in 
which  to  do  the  work  for  which  they  were  born,  and 
for  which  they  are  studying,  I  shall  greatly  rejoice. 
The  death  of  one  may  thus  issue  in  the  life  of  many. 

Modern  France  walks  everywhere  over  the  graves 

of  martyrs;  and  no  history  has  been  like  hers  for 

faith  and  endurance  to  the  death.      It  is  specially 

interesting  to  observe  how  the  martyr-spirit  breathes 

through  her  ancient  hymnology ;   and  to  mark  the 

prominent  part  which  hymnology  is  taking  in  the 

present   movement,  and  how,  by  means   of  it,  the 

Gospel  is  penetrating  "the  masses"  of  her  cities. 

h 


X  Preface, 

The  two  volumes  of  Bordier,  "  Chansonnier-Hugue- 
not "  are  really  the  records  of  martyrdom.  Yet  she 
seems  not  to  know  all  this :  or  at  least  she  thinks  not 
of  it.  Even  her  good  men  seem  to  have  lost  sight  of 
the  special  honour  which  God  has  conferred  upon 
their  land.  They  take  little  notice  of  the  holy  dust 
that  lies  beneath  their  feet.  But  God  remembers 
what  France  has  suffered  for  His  Gospel.  And,  in 
sending  to  her  need  messengers  from  other  lands, 
He  is  not  only  answering  the  unanswered  prayers  of 
past  generations,  but  summoning  her  to  remember 
her  noble  ancestry  of  faithful  witnesses, — an  ancestry 
the  like  of  which  no  other  nation  possesses. 

The  Grange, 
Edixbukgh,  December,  1883. 


I 


?Bi«ejE'i'0if  ■% 


CONTENTS. 

♦ 

CHAPTER  ■  PAGE 

I.   BIRTH   AND   EDUCATION — DUNDEE — ST.   ANDREWS,  1 

II.    CORRESPONDENCE   AFTER   LEAVING   ST.    ANDREWS,  46 

III.    student's   life   IN   EDINBURGH,     ....         92 

IV.  MISSIONARY  VIEWS  — INQUIRIES  AS  TO  MISSION- 
FIELDS — REFUSAL  OF  A  HOME-FIELD — RESOLU- 
TION TO   SETTLE   IN   PARIS,         '  .  .  .  .      149 

V.   EARLY     WORK    IN    PARIS — BELLEVILLE  —  LETTERS 

AND   JOURNALS, 173 

VI.  LYONS  —  RETURN  TO  PARIS  —  BORDEAUX  —  OTHER 
TOWNS— VISIT  TO  ENGLAND — RETURN  TO  PARIS 
— SECOND  VISIT   TO   ENGLAND,  ....      205 

VII.   AMERICA, 234 

VIII.  VOYAGE  HOME  —  PARIS  WORK  —  WORK  IN  DIF- 
FERENT TOWNS — SOJOURN  AT  CLERMONT-FER- 
RAND— VISIT  TO  THE  HAUTES  ALPES — RETURN 
TO  PARIS, 270 

xi 


xii  Contents, 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

IX.   PARIS     AGAIN  — HOPES     AND     FEARS  —  SUCCESS  — 

INQUIRY    MEETINGS  —  PLANS    ABOUT    CONDUCT- 
ING   MEETINGS  —  SPECIMENS    OF    USUAL    WORK 

IN  1881  AND  1882, 309 

X.   THE  LAST  FOUR  MONTHS — SUMMER  WORK — PLANS 
FOR  REST — BUISSON  LUZAS — ILLNESS — DEATH — 

333 

APPENDIX, 417 


GEOKGE   THEOPHILUS  DODDS. 

CHAPTER  I. 

BIRTH  AND  EDUCATION — DUNDEE — ST.  ANDREWS. 

'HEN  in  1879  I  wrote  "  The  White  Fields 
"^  of  France,"  I  could  go  back  to  the  simple 
but  happy  beginning  of  the  M'All  Mission 
in  Belleville  so  modestly  related  by  himself.  He 
commenced  alone ;  in  fear,  and  yet  in  faith.  It  was 
a  peculiar  undertaking ;  and  as  to  its  future  what 
could  he  say  ?  There  did  not  seem  to  be  much  of 
hope ;  and  there  was  enough  of  difficulty  to  dis- 
courage ordinary  men. 

Comparing  his  first  Belleville  meeting  in  the  Rue 
Julien  Lacroix  and  its  106  sittings,  in  January,  1872, 
with  the  more  than  threescore  meetings  all  over 
France  into  which  that  solitary  station  has  grown,  he 
will  greatly  rejoice;  feeling 

As  did  the  Egyptian  traveller  when  he  stood 

By  the  young  Nile,  and  fathomed  with  his  lance 
The  first  small  fountains  of  that  mighty  flood. 

B 


2  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds, 

In  1872  the  prospect  was  not  a  bright  one.  In 
1879  it  was  immensely  brighter.  And  now,  in  1883, 
it  is  brighter  still,  save  for  one  heavy  sorrow  that  has 
overshadowed  it,  of  which  we  cannot  yet  penetrate 
the  issue  or  the  meaning.  What  the  light  is  that 
may  come  out  of  this  darkness  remains  to  be  seen. 

In  1879  I  could  point  to  widening  scenes  of  labour, 
and  tell  of  new  labourers  raised  up  for  these.  Men 
and  means  were  not  indeed  coming  forward  in  pro- 
portion to  the  vastness  of  the  field;  but  still  the 
work  was  advancing ; — no  new  disappointments,  no 
formidable  difficulties,  and  no  serious  checks.  Many 
hearts,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  were  cheered  with 
the  reports  that  came  in  from  different  quarters.  A 
small  periodical  was  started  in  that  year,  into  which 
was  gathered  a  great  amount  of  intelligence  from 
different  stations  and  districts,  with  extracts  from 
letters  and  journals  of  the  various  labourers.  It 
grew  in  variety  and  interest  in  each  issue,  and  gave 
to  the  Church  at  large  the  freshest  and  most  reliable 
information  that  was  to  be  found.  Modest  in  tone, 
select  in  its  materials,  and  well- written  in  all  its 
articles,  it  was  of  great  service  to  the  Mission  in 
England  and  Scotland.  Its  brief  pictures  of  Paris 
missionary  work  were  of  the  most  telling  kind, 
revealing  the  interior  working  of  the  enterprise ; 
taking  the  reader  into  the  very  heart  of  the  various 


Birth  and  Education. 


operations.  Its  quiet  but  vivid  sketches  of  the 
different  scenes  were  relished  exceedingly. 

Since  then  there  have  been  changes,  many  and 
important,  though  the  spirit  of  the  Mission  and  its 
general  machinery  have  remained  the  same.  The 
fields  have  not  grown  less  white,  and  they  have  not 
yet  been  reaped.  The  work  has  not  become  less 
hopeful;  the  sphere  of  activity  has  not  been  narrowed; 
the  success  has  not  been  diminished. 

But  the  workers  are  not  quite  the  same.  "The 
greater  part  remain  unto  this  present ;  but  some  are 
fallen  asleep."  There  have  been  changes  ;  and  it  is 
with  one  of  these  changes  that  this  volume  has  to 
do.  It  is  certainly  not  a  volume  which  I  ever 
expected  to  write. 

I  thought  that  we  might  count  upon  many  years 
of  vigorous  work  from  one  whose  name  occurs  fre- 
quently throughout  "  The  White  Fields  of  France." 
The  promise  was  bright.  He  was  just  the  man  for 
the  work.  It  would  hardly  have  been  possible  to 
find  one  so  singularly  fitted  for  the  singular  service. 
Anything  like  failure  seemed  unlikely.  He  was  in  the 
prime  of  manhood,  or  rather  in  the  vigour  of  youth, 
when  he  took  the  sickle  in  his  hand  :  only  twenty- 
seven  years  old ;  in  sufficient  health,  both  of  body  and 
mind;  thoroughly  imbued  with  a  true  missionary 
spirit,   and   "counting    not    his    life    dear  to   him 


4  Memoir  of  Rev,  G.  T.  Dodds. 

that  he  might  finish  his  course  with  joy,  and  the 
ministry  which  he  had  received  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to 
testify  the  Gospel  of  the  Grace  of  God."  Hopeful, 
fervent,  and  buoyant,  with  all  his  large  gifts  and 
accomplishments,  he  girded  himself  eagerly  for  the 
enterprise  to  which  he  had  been  called. 

His  service  was  to  be  shorter  than  we  had 
imagined.  God's  measure  is  not  man's  measure, 
and  length  of  service  does  not  always  mean  length 
of  life.  To  do  much  in  little  time,  and  without 
parade  or  noise,  has  been  the  feature  most  memo- 
rable in  some  of  the  truest  workers  whom  the 
Master  has  raised  up,  and  the  Church  delighted  to 
honour. 

In  the  case  of  Mr.  Dodds,  much  was  accomplished 
in  five  years.  Why  the  five  were  not  made  fifty  is 
not  for  us  to  say.  If  the  shorter  space  had  been  so 
useful,  what  would  not  the  larger  have  been  ?  The 
outfit  seemed  to  be  all  lost ;  and  it  was  no  common 
outfit.  The  Master,  however,  it  seems,  could  spare 
him,  though  we  were  saying  that  we  could  not.  Who 
is  to  carry  on  his  work  ?  is  a  question  not  for  us  to 
answer,  but  for  Him  who  gave  and  took  him.  The 
work  was  His,  and  so  was  the  workman.  The  field 
remains,  and  He  will  see  to  the  reapers.  The  lesson 
for  us  is  to  work  while  it  is  day. 

No  Christian  dies  too  early ;   and  no  workman  is 


Bwth  and  Education. 


taken  from  his  work  too  soon.  The  short  time  and 
the  sudden  removal  are  no  doubt  parts  of  the  great 
agency  by  which  the  work  is  to  be  expanded  and 
matured :  perhaps  I  may  specially  add  deejpened  ; 
for  work,  like  that  among  the  Paris  ouvriers,  needs 
times  of  deepening  and  consolidation.  How  the 
sacrifice  of  one  of  its  best  labourers  is  to  accomplish 
this,  we  see  not.  Man  could  not  venture  on  such 
sacrifices ;  for  he  cannot  calculate  effects.  But  He 
to  whom  all  such  calculations  are  easy,  and  all  such 
results  open,  can  and  may.  We  have  but  to  look  on, 
and  wonder  and  believe.  "  What  I  do,  thou  knowest 
not  now,  but  thou  shalt  know  hereafter."  His  way 
is  in  the  sea ;  His  path  in  the  great  waters ;  His 
footsteps  are  not  known. 

In  our  judgment,  the  labourer  could  ill  be  spared, 
when  the  fields  were  widening  and  the  open  doors 
multiplying.  But  in  the  judgment  of  One  far  wiser 
than  we,  his  services  were  no  longer  required.  The 
Master  had  got  out  of  him  all  that  He  purposed; 
and  the  reaping  must  now  pass  into  other  hands. 
He  knew,  too,  that  His  servant  needed  rest, — much 
more  even  than  we  knew,  who  saw  him  in  his  weary 
nights  and  busy  mornings.  Our  hopes  were  broken ; 
but  these  human  hopes  are  ^  not  the  measure  of  the 
Divine  will.  That  will  contains  something  better  for 
us  and  for  France  than  all  that  our  hopes  had  sketched 


6  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

or  fancied.  The  Lord  of  the  harvest  knows  what  He  is 
doing.  There  is  nothing  capricious  in  His  movements. 
He  knows  when  to  raise  up,  and  when  to  cast  down. 
He  knows,  too,  what  workmen  are  needed,  and  what 
are  not  needed.  The  work  is  His,  not  ours.  The 
instruments  are  in  His  hands,  not  in  ours.  We  refer 
the  whole  case  to  Him ;  and  hand  over  to  Him  both 
failure  and  success.  He  holds  Himself  responsible 
for  both. 

On  the  9th  of  September,  1882,  George  Theophilus 
Dodds  rested  from  his  labours,  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
two.  Far  from  father  and  mother,  brother  and  sister; 
far  from  his  dear  friends  in  Scotland,  and  from  those 
no  less  dear,  in  the  land  of  his  adoption,  he  lay  down 
upon  a  sick-bed  from  which  he  was  not  to  rise.  In 
a  lonely  dwelling,  on  the  edge  of  a  barren  moor,  five 
miles  from  the  nearest  post-town ;  no  village  near ; 
in  just  such  a  retreat  as  in  a  day  of  health  would 
have  been  very  desirable,  he  was  strangely  stricken 
down ;  and  the  rest  which  he  had  come  to  seek  was 
exchanged  for  one  more  perfect  and  enduring.  After 
twelve  days  of  illness,  in  great  prostration  and  pain 
and  weariness,  with  only  his  beloved  wife  and  two 
dear  Christian  friends  to  soothe  his  death-bed  and 
close  his  eyes,  on  the  afternoon  of  a  bright  sunny 
Saturday  he  passed  away. 

Five  years  were  the  limits  of  his  service  :  no  more. 


Birth  and  Educatio7i, 


or  rather  somewhat  less;  for  it  was  not  till  the 
beginning  of  November,  1877,  that  he  went  into 
regular  work,  and  took  up  his  abode  at  Belleville, 
settling  down,  as  Mr.  M'All  had  done,  in  the  very 
heart  of  that  wild  district,  and  of  the  strange  popula- 
tion whose  welfare  he  had  come  to  seek. 

Into  these  five  years  he  had  crowded  an  extraor- 
dinary measure  of  work  of  all  kinds, — patient,  arduous, 
successful  work,  so  that  one  could  hardly  believe  that 
one  so  young  could  have  undergone  such  an  amount 
of  fatigue,  mental  and  bodily,  and  borne  such  a  strain 
upon  his  constitution,  as  these  brief  years  must  have 
required.  His  career  was  short ;  but  it  was  manfully 
begun,  conscientiously  filled  up,  and  honourably 
ended.  As  an  example  of  missionary  self-denial,  of 
enduring  hardness,  of  manly  perseverance,  and  of 
indifference  to  ease  and  comfort,  it  may  well  be  set 
before  the  young  men  of  our  day  for  iinitation ;  for 
it  will  not  be  worth  the  admiring  if  it  be  not  also 
imitated. 

Here  is  a  record  of  self-consecration.  It  does  not 
connect  itself  with  foreign  missions,  but  simply  with 
European  work.  Not  the  less,  however,  on  that 
account,  is  it  an  example  for  the  youth  of  all  churches. 
The  work  in  Paris  was  quite  as  heavy  and  as  self- 
sacrificing  as  it  could  have  been  in  India  or  China ; 
the  only  difference  being  the  lesser  distance  from 


8  Memoir  of  Rev.  G,  T.  Dodds. 

home,  and  the  fuller  equipment  in  language  of  the 
workman  for  his  special  work  before  setting  out.  No 
one  who  may  offer  himself  for  the  Paris  field  need  do 
so  under  the  idea  that  the  work  will  be  of  an  easier 
kind,  demanding  a  more  commonplace  outfit,  or  offer- 
ing somewhat  of  ease  and  leisure.  If  he  starts  with 
any  such  idea  he  will  soon  be  undeceived,  and  find 
that  he  is  not  the  man  for  Paris,  where  "  enduring 
hardness  "  is  the  rule  for  all  workers,  male  or  female. 
Tourists  have  seldom  troubled  themselves  about 
missionary  work  in  Paris.  Even  Christian  men  have 
hitherto  overlooked  it.  They  have  visited  the  Louvre, 
the  Madeleine,  Notre  Dame,  the  Arc  de  Triomphe,  the 
Place  de  la  Concorde,  the  Champs  Elysees ;  but  the 
grandest  sights  of  all, —  the  Salles,  with  their 
ouvrier  gatherings,  they  have  not  inquired  for. 
They  have  "done"  Paris,  and  wearied  themselves 
in  body  and  soul;  but  they  have  rushed  past 
these  interesting  halls  which  angels  might  "  desire 
to  look  into,"  without  even  stopping  to  listen  to  the 
happy  songs,  or  the  good  news,  or  the  invita- 
tions to  the  passing  crowds.  Of  the  hundred  thousand 
visitors  who  rush  through  Paris  every  summer  from 
the  British  Islands,  how  few  could  tell  you  anything 
of  these  bright  meetings  !  Some  have  never  heard  of 
them ;  some  have  heard  of  them,  but  they  were  too 
much  occupied  with  sight-seeing  to  go  out  of  their 


Birth  and  Edticatiofi.  9 

way  to  find  out  even  the  nearest  mission-station. 
SomO;  returning  from  the  opera,  might  pass  the 
mission  door, or  encounter  the  weary  worker, — perhaps 
a  lonely  lady, — threading  her  way  to  the  "  Home  " 
where  the  female  workers  reside ;  but  what  was  she 
to  them,  or  what  was  her  work  to  an  excited  sight- 
seer, or  a  lover  of  pleasure,  with  the  music  of  the 
opera  still  ringing  in  his  ears  ? 

The  true  sights  of  Paris  are  not  what  the  gay  crowd 
flocks  to,  or  what  the  paid  commissionaires  can  point 
out,  or  what  forms  the  subject  of  conversation  at  the 
tahle-d'hotey  or  what  the  handbook  enumerates, — but 
those  in  which  humble  men  and  women,  not  counting 
their  lives  dear  to  them,  are  spending  and  being  spent 
in  gathering  in  the  refuse  of  Parisian  society, — the 
furthest  gone  of  the  waifs  of  humanity.  The  real 
"  spectacles "  of  the  French  capital  are  the  nightly 
gatherings  of  the  poor  ouvriers  listening  to  the  "  new 
religion  "  with  happy  eagerness,  and  singing  with  all 
their  strength,  both  old  and  young,  not  the  Marseil- 
laise or  the  profane  song,  but  the  "  Cantiques  Popu- 
laires  " — the  hymns  of  everlasting  life. 

Perhaps  our  Christian  tourists,  when  next  they 
visit  the  city  of  two  millions, — the  city  wholly  given 
to  pleasure, — will  think  of  these  things  and  be  less 
eager  in  their  desire  to  see  and  hear  all  the  gay 
things  which  Paris  has  to  attract  the  eye  and  ear. 


lo  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 

Perhaps,  too,  they  will  think  as  they  pass  along  the 
Rue  de  Rivoli  or  the  Place  du  Trocadero,  of  the  toil 
and  weariness  of  those  devoted  workers  who,  it 
will  be  admitted,  present  a  singular  contrast  to  the 
pleasure-crowds  whose  eye  is  not  satisfied  with  seeing, 
nor  whose  ear  with  hearing  the  wonders  of  the  gay 
city.  The  band  of  self-denying  seekers  of  the  lost, 
now  toiling  in  the  lowest  lanes  and  in  the  midst  of 
the  most  wretched  population,  is  one  that  even  the 
gay  world  might  admire,  if  it  would  take  the  trouble 
to  look  into  one  of  their  halls,  or  go  a- visiting  with 
them  for  a  single  day. 

Not  that  the  workers  think  their  lot  a  hard 
one,  or  wish  to  be  thought  martyrs.  Far  from  it. 
They  go  about  their  work  with  glad  hearts,  and 
return  from  it,  generally  towards  midnight,  happy  and 
undiscouraged.  They  feel  quite  safe  in  the  streets  of 
Paris,  at  all  hours ;  and  as  for  weariness  and  dis- 
comfort, these  are  common  to  all  such  labourers,  in 
London,  Paris,  or  Edinburgh.  The  fewness  of  the 
labourers  is  the  chief  complaint;  so  that  when  even  one 
new  reaper  comes  into  the  field  with  a  sharp  sickle 
there  is  rejoicing ;  and  when  one  leaves,  or  is  taken 
away  in  the  Providence  of  God, — especially  if  that 
one  be  a  foremost  man, — there  is  no  common  mourn- 
ing. The  loss  of  one  out  of  a  thousand  is  not  so 
sorely  felt ;  but  the  loss  of  one  out  of  a  score  is  an 


Birth  and  Education.  1 1 

overwhelming  calamity.  Were  the  work  not  the 
work  of  God,  such  a  loss  would  awaken  despair.  Yet 
sorrowful  as  have  been  the  hearts  of  the  noble  Paris 
band  because  of  Mr.  Dodds'  sad  removal,  and  dark  as 
the  shadow  has  been  that  has  rested  over  the  Mission 
now  a  whole  year,  there  is  no  despondency,  but  only 
increasing  zeal  and  faith.  The  work  goes  on  with 
all  its  former  vigour  and  hopefulness,  however  deeply 
the  blank  is  felt.  He  is  missed;  but  his  memory 
and  example  remain.  The  Mission-Salles  are  his 
true  and  best  monument,  and  his  converts  are  the 
immortelles  laid  upon  his  tomb. 

He  was  bom  at  Lochee,  a  suburb  of  Dundee,  on 
the  second  of  June,  1850.  His  father  is  the  honoured 
minister  of  the  Free  Church  there,  and  his  mother, 
who  died  a  few  months  after  her  son,  was  Isabella 
Gardner  Dickson,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  John  Dickson, 
missionary  for  some  time  at  Astrakan  in  Southern 
Russia,  who,  along  with  one  or  two  other  devoted 
missionaries,  was  compelled  to  leave  that  country 
and  return  home,  in  consequence  of  the  jealousy  of 
the  Russian  Government,  and  its  dread  of  the  freely- 
circulated  Scriptures.  It  was  well  that  these  self- 
den3dng  men  got  ojGf  with  simple  extrusion  from  the 
Czar's  dominions  and  banishment  to  their  native  land. 

Early  in  the  present  century  some  missionaries  left 
Scotland  for   Karass,  on  the  borders  of  Circassia, 


12  Memoir  of  Rev.  G,  T,  Dodds, 

Most  of  them  succumbed  to  the  hardships  and 
dangers  to  which  they  were  exposed  in  that  uncivil- 
ised region.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dickson  (along  with 
another  missionary)  were  spared  for  further  useful- 
ness. To  replace  those  who  were  removed,  another 
reinforcement  was  sent  out.  After  some  years,  Messrs. 
Mitchell  and  Dickson  removed  to  Astrakan,  as  a 
better  centre  for  the  translation  and  printing  of  the 
Scriptures  and  Catechisms  already  in  progress.  Here 
they  had  ample  means  of  itinerating  among  the 
surrounding  villages  of  Tartars.  Mr.  Dickson  was 
engaged  simultaneously  with  two  translations,  one 
designated  Tartar-Turkish,  the  other  Tartar.  The 
formation  of  a  Bible  Society,  the  frequent  and 
encouraging  visits  of  the  Archbishop,  the  arrival  of 
missionaries  and  strangers,  besides  their  constant 
intercourse  with  the  natives,  enlivened  their  sojourn 
in  Astrakan.  After  some  time  the  hierarchy  began 
to  look  unfavourably  on  the  mission  work,  and  this 
ultimately  led  to  the  removal  of  the  Missionaries. 
Mr.  Dickson  devoted  himself  to  the  carrying  on  of 
the  translation,  and  completed  it  as  far  as  the  Minor 
Prophets,  when  death  arrested  his  pen.  His 
youngest  daughter,  Isabella,  deeply  impressed  with 
the  wants  of  the  heathen  world,  wished  to  devote 
herself  to  the  mission-field.  She  was  thought  too 
young  at  the   time,   and  afterwards   was    married 


Birth  and  Education,  1 3 

to  Mr.  Dodds  of  Lochee,  where  George  Theophilus 
was  bom.  His  mother,  meditating  on  the  gift  she 
had  received,  consecrated  him  to  the  Lord,  and  pro- 
posed that  Theophilus  should  be  added  to  his  name, 
— asking  for  him  that  he  might  early  love  the  Lord. 

In  boyhood  he  was  cheerful  and  buoyant ;  full  of 
energy  and  vivacity ;  fond  of  the  amusements  and 
sports  of  his  age;  yet  never  idle  nor  indolent; 
always  studious,  and  desirous  of  gleaning  information 
on  all  subjects,  wherever  he  might  be  ;  of  retentive 
memory,  and  quick  in  application  of  all  he  knew. 
Thoroughly  earnest  and  conscientious,  he  did  not 
allow  recreation  to  interfere  with  study  or  with  duty. 
Uprightness  and  conscientiousness  were  his  charac- 
teristics, even  from  childhood.  It  was  remarked  of 
him  that  he  always  seemed  to  know  what  was  right. 
And  what  he  knew  he  did. 

He  owed  much  to  his  beloved  mother.*     In  her 

*  Dr.  Hodge,  of  Princeton,  records  an  experience  like  the  above  : 
— "Our  early  training  was  religious.  Our  mother  was  a  Christian  ; 
she  took  us  regularly  to  church,  and  carefully  drilled  us  in  the  West- 
minster Catechism.  There  has  never  been  anything  remarkable  in 
my  religious  experience,  except  that  it  began  very  early.  I  think 
that  in  my  childhood  I  came  nearer  to  conforming  to  the  Apostle's 
injunction,  •  pray  without  ceasing,'  than  in  any  other  period  of  my 
life.  As  far  back  as  I  can  remember,  I  had  the  habit  of  thanking 
God  for  everything  I  received,  and  asking  Him  for  everything  I 
wanted.  If  I  lost  a  book  or  plaything,  I  prayed  that  I  might  find  it. 
I  prayed  walking  along  the  streets,  in  school,  and  out  of  school, 
whether  playing  or  studying, — it  seemed  natural  ("  Life,"  p.  13). 


14         Memoir  of  Rev,  G,  T,  Dodds. 

walks  with  him  in  childhood  she  taught  him  botany, 
having  herself  no  inconsiderable  knowledge  of  that 
science.  Thus  early  he  became  imbued  with  that  love 
of  natural  history,  which  developed  itself  in  after-life. 
Being  also  a  linguist,  and  knowing  several  modern 
languages,  such  as  Italian,  Russian,  Tartar,  &c.,  she 
gave  an  early  impulse  to  his  linguistic  tastes.  Above 
all,  as  the  daughter  of  a  missionary,  she  filled  his 
young  mind  with  missionary  yearnings  which  never 
left  him, — though  the  extent  of  his  missionary  ideas 
then  was  that  "he  would  go  and  preach  to  the 
blacks."  We  shall  see  how  this  developed  itself 
afterwards,  and  that  his  work  in  Paris  was  the  fulfil- 
ment of  his  early  longings,  though  as  yet  he  knew 
nothing  of  Paris  or  ouvriers. 

His  entrance  on  the  narrow  way  had  nothing 
about  it  sudden  or  marked.  He  had  from  very  early 
days  a  longing  after  God,  a  desire  to  do  what  was 
right,  and  a  wish  to  be  of  use  to  his  fellow-men.  A 
father's  and  a  mother's  teaching  had  early  told  upon 
him.  But  the  clear  light  did  not  break  in  all  at 
once.  A  few  weeks  before  he  died  he  said,  "  I  have 
too  little  sense  of  my  own  sinfulness.  Even  when  a 
child,  I  seem  to  have  wished  to  do  what  was  right, — 
if  I  had  only  known  how."  Thus,  imperceptibly,  the 
Spirit  of  God  wrought  His  work  in  him  from  the 
first ;  the  light  of  certainty  and  peace  did  not  come 


Birth  and  Education,  1 5 

till  later  on.  But  when  it  came  it  remained  unbroken 
to  the  last.  He  shrank  intuitively  from  evil.  Both 
at  school  and  college  he  turned  away  from  words  and 
scenes  of  impropriety.  His  decision  in  these  things 
was  very  noticeable.  His  conscience  in  these  years 
was  tender  ;  sometimes  it  might  appear  morbid. 
In  later  years,  while  there  was  the  same  tenderness, 
the  morbid  feeling  was  gone,  not  a  shade  of  it 
remained.  No  one  ever  felt  more  free  to  enjoy  with 
thankfulness  all  the  good  things  which  God  gave. 
Though  not  unacquainted  with  depression,  few  have 
worked  more  in  the  liberty  of  Christ. 

He  received  his  early  education  first  at  the  Lochee 
Free  Church  School,  and  then  at  the  High  School 
of  Dundee,  which  he  entered  in  1861,  and  where  he 
proved  his  diligence  as  a  scholar.  He  was  satisfied 
with  nothing  short  of  success  in  what  he  undertook. 
Kindly,  unselfish  and  obliging,  he  made  himself  many 
friends.  But  of  those  juvenile  days  there  are  almost 
no  records  nor  reminiscences. 

The  classical  department  was  then  under  Dr. 
Richard  Low,  whose  unwearied  endeavours  for  the 
progress  and  welfare  of  his  pupils  will  be  long  remem- 
bered by  all  who  knew  him.  Under  him,  George's 
love  of  languages,  hitherto  latent,  was  developed, 
until  in  college  days  it  grew  into  a  passion.  The 
books    in     various    languages  —  Arabic,     Turkish, 


1 6  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds. 

and  others — which  he  found  in  his  father's  library, 
he  early  began  to  examine ;  and  there  lies  beside 
me  a  Turkish  New  Testament,  with  his  name 
on  the  fly-leaf,  indicating  that  he  had  resolved 
to  attack  it,  though  I  am  not  aware  that  in  after 
years  he  prosecuted  his  Oriental  studies  to  any 
extent.  His  great  work  for  the  last  five  years 
absorbed  all  his  studies. 

Though  at  school  he  worked  hard,  he  relished 
athletic  sports  and  outdoor  recreations  of  all 
kinds.  In  his  numerous  country  rambles  he 
carried  out  his  love  of  natural  science,  and  added 
to  the  knowledge  of  botany  which  he  had  gained 
from  his  mother.  He  never,  indeed,  became  a 
scientific  botanist ;  but  he  retained  and  enlarged  his 
early  knowledge  in  after  years,  so  that  wherever  he 
travelled,  at  home  or  abroad,  he  had  an  eye  on  the 
flora  of  the  places,  and  used  to  write  to  his  friends 
about  them,  especially  the  ferns  he  met  with,  sending 
specimens  in  his  letters.  He  was  thus  unconsciously 
furnished  with  illustrations  for  his  Parisian  classes 
and  meetings  in  later  days;  and  many  a  striking 
enforcement  or  elucidation  of  Divine  truth  he  gathered 
from  the  fields  and  gardens  and  woods.  In  conver- 
sing with  or  preaching  to  the  poor  Parisian  ouvrier 
he  found  his  knowledge  of  natural  history,  picked  up 
in  various  past  years,  most  serviceable. 


S^.  Andrews.  17 


"  His  Saturday  holidays/'  says  his  brother,  "  were 
spent  mostly  in  long  walks,  during  which  he  laid  the 
foundation  of  an  accurate  knowledge  of  many  branches 
of  natural  history.  ...  As  relaxation  from  work  he 
cultivated  music  and  the  arts,  in  which  he  delighted. 
At  St.  Andrews,  as  afterwards  in  Edinburgh,  he  was 
a  leading  spirit  in  the  Students'  Missionary  Society. 
Even  in  these  days  he  displayed  his  marvellous 
capacity  for  work,  and  the  enthusiasm  which  he 
showed  in  everything  which  he  took  up." 

The  holiday  rambles  of  a  young  student  reveal 
character  more  than  is  generally  supposed ;  and  bear 
upon  his  training  for  future  work  more  than  he  him- 
self at  the  time  would  reckon  possible ;  occasionally 
they  may  be  unprofitable,  no  doubt;  but  at  other 
times  useful  in  the  education  both  of  mind  and  body ; 
sometimes  only  the  indulgence  of  youthful  levity,  but 
in  other  cases  thoughtfully  gone  about  as  preparation 
for  more  serious  life. 

He  entered  the  University  of  St.  Andrews  in  Nov- 
ember, 1866,  and  remained  there  during  the  greater 
part  of  the  usual  four  years'  course ;  exhibiting  pro- 
ficiency in  all  his  classes,  but  specially  in  languages 
and  moral  philosophy.  In  the  latter  class,  besides 
other  honours,  he  gained  the  prize  for  the  best 
essay  on  the  philosophy  of  Spinoza.  His  remem- 
brances of  college  days,  as  he  has  more  than  once  told 


1 8  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 

me,  were  of  a  somewhat  mingled  kind ;  as,  indeed,  the 
college  reminiscences  of  most  of  us  are,  both  respect- 
ing ourselves  and  our  fellow-students.  Of  our  college 
companions  how  often  have  we  seen  that  verse  ful- 
filled :  "  The  first  shall  be  last,  and  the  last  first."  He 
did  not  trifle ;  and  in  after  years  he  expressed  himself 
strongly  regarding  the  way  in  which  some  students 
loitered  through  their  curriculum,  evincing  no  sense  of 
responsihility,  nor  concern  as  to  their  future  career ; 
looking  on  college  sessions  as  periods  of  deliverance 
from  home  control ;  indulging  their  tastes,  not  culti- 
vating their  minds,  nor  bracing  themselves  for  a  life 
of  energy  and  usefulness. 

He  had  great  patience  with  the  honest  doubter,  but 
none  with  those  who  "played  with  doubts;"  and 
when  asked  once  whether  he  had  not  passed  through 
a  period  of  doubt  like  other  men,  he  said,  "  I  have 
been  attacked  by  doubt,  but  I  never  consented  to  it ; 
I  hated  it  all  the  time."  Thus  he  wrote  to  a  friend, 
15th  February,  1875  :— 

"How  well  I  know  that  withering  chill — 'that  boundless 
nothing' — these  cold  and  false  '  eternal  silences.'  I  have  felt 
as  if  entangled  in  the  mysteries  of  some  subtle  system — error 
from  first  to  last,  I  knew,  with  hardly  a  line  of  truth  in  the 
woven  tissues  that  net-like  surrounded  me.  *  As  for  me,  my 
feet  were  almost  gone,  my  steps  had  well-nigh  slipped.'  These 
times  are  in  a  measure  gone — mental  problems  are  hardly  what 
trouble  me  now.     I  thank  God  that  they  are  more  spiritual 


6*/.  Andrews.  19 


now  ;  not  that  they  are  less  dangerous,  but  mental  troubles  are 
marks  of  an  earlier  stage,  surely,  in  the  Christian  life." 

He  was  always  in  earnest,  with  a  high  sense  of  duty 
actuating  him ;  so  that  while  he  was  thoroughly  social 
and  genial,  he  was  never  led  aside  into  frivolity  or 
vice.  He  had  a  tender  conscience,  which  made  him 
shun  evil,  and  as  he  looked  along  the  opening  years 
of  life,  he  saw  a  future  which,  whatever  it  might  turn 
out,  would  unquestionably  be  greatly  moulded  by  the 
complexion  of  his  college  life.  The  responsibilities 
of  being  had  begun  to  weigh  up)on  him,  perhaps  un- 
consciously, as  upon  many  a  youth  brought  up  in  a 
Christian  family.  He  was  only  beginning  life  ;  but 
he  wanted  to  begin  it  well ;  and  besides,  his  heart 
was  even  then  set  on  the  ministry.  The  inconsist- 
encies or  eccentricities  of  some  of  his  fellow-students 
troubled  him ;  and  in  after  years  he  frequently 
referred  to  them.  But  they  were  to  him  beacons,  not 
models. 

He  did  well  in  all  his  classes ;  but  his  greedy  love 
of  knowledge  of  all  kinds  kept  him  from  caring  to 
work  for  honour  or  ambition.  He  had,  all  his  life,  a 
great  contempt  for  "  cramming  "  and  "  coaching."  All 
knowledge  with  him  had  not  so  much  to  be  learned 
as  assimilated.  Any  one  who  conversed  with  him 
must  have  observed  how  thorough  in  his  case  this 
assimilation  had  been.       All   that  he  studied  had 


20  Memoir  of  Rev,  G.  T,  Dodds. 

been  absorbed  into  his  mental  and  spiritual  system, 
so  to  be  really  part  of  himself;  and  that  not  in  the 
way  of  conglomeration  or  accretion,  but  of  assimi- 
lation. In  looking  back  on  these  days  in  1874,  he 
writes:  "I  have  forgotten  college  metaphysics;  not 
the  science  itself,  but  the  weary  pages  of  theories 
which  I  never  cared  for." 

I  could  tell  the  young  student,  who  may  read 
these  pages,  many  a  sorrowful  story  of  misspent 
college  days ; — and  of  some  who,  though  spared  to  be 
useful  in  the  Church,  and  delivered  from  many  of 
the  consequences  of  youthful  idleness,  or  worse, — to 
the  last  bore  traces  of  early  folly,  and  lamented  to  me 
most  bitterly  the  frivolities  of  their  wasted  youth. 

He  studied  philosophy,  both  ancient  and  modern, 
investigating  it  on  all  sides,  and  in  all  its  lights  and 
shades.  The  Moral  Philosophy  class  he  specially  en- 
joyed ;  and  frequently  spoke  of  it  in  later  years.  His 
remarks  afterwards  upon  his  studies  and  his  professors 
showed  how  various  had  been  his  reading,  and  how 
intelligently  he  had  passed  through  it  all.  He  became 
early  aware  of  the  strength  of  the  currents,  both  upper 
and  under,  that  were  operating  upon  the  intellect  of 
the  day,  and  threatening  to  land  it  almost  uncon- 
sciously upon  the  shoals  of  a  most  subtle  and  plausible 
unbelief.  Perhaps  the  thing  that  struck  him  most 
was  the  amount  which  he  would  require  to  surrender 


S^.  Andrews.  21 


of  all  that  he  had  learned  to  account  precious,  if  he 
surrendered  anything  at  all.  Faith  and  unbelief 
were  the  two  parties  before  him ;  with  one  of  which  he 
must  identify  himself  The  points  under  discussion 
might  be  undefined,  and  the  issues  undeveloped,  or 
rather  hidden  in  mist ;  but  the  question  presenting 
itself  in  embryo  was,  "  Faith  or  unbelief,  which  is  it  to 
be  ? "  With  one  of  these  he  must  cast  in  his  lot ;  and 
he  felt  that  his  doing  so  was  not  a  mere  metaphysical 
conclusion,  but  a  decision  which  had  eternal  bearings 
upon  himself  and  others.  He  had  gone  through  some 
struggles ;  but  faith  had  prevailed,  even  though  his 
full  decision  for  Christ  had  not  yet  unfolded  itself.* 

*  In  the  autobiography  of  Kollner,  a  German  pastor  of  the  last 
century — a  most  interesting  but  little  known  volume — there  is  a 
striking  paragraph  narrating  his  first  experience  of  a  German 
university.       It   may   interest    some    student-readers: — "In    the 

autumn  of  the  year  1780  I  entered  the  university  at as  a  good 

evangelical  Christian,  acknowledging  Jesus  Christ  as  my  atonement 
and  mediator,  and  God  as  my  father  and  provider  through  him. 
Here  began  a  new  division  of  my  life,  which  was  highly  important, 
but  at  the  same  time  equally  dangerous  to  my  faith.  Even  during 
the  first  half-year  my  faith  became  like  a  reed,  blown  hither  and 
thither  by  the  wind,  and  like  a  ball,  with  which  the  professors  might 
play,  and  did  play  at  their  pleasure,  because  my  power  of  discrimina- 
tion was  still  too  imperfect  rightly  to  estimate  everything  I  heard, 
and  because  I  was  still  totally  unacquainted  with  the  spirit  of  the 
times,  which,  even  then,  had  powerful  influence.  I  am  now  indeed 
aware  that  the  path  which  had  been  prepared  hy  rendering  the 
canon  of  Scripture  suspected,  was,  even  at  that  period,  universally 
trodden,  and  a  heterodox  theology  was  the  first  to  enter  upon  it  with 
gigantic  step.  For  a  short  time  only  I  was  surprised  at  the  exegeti- 
cal  expositions   of  Scripture,   which  were  entirely  opposed   to  my 


2  2  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

One  thing  that  helped  to  keep  him  safe  was  his 

system,  and  especially  to  those  passages  whicli  I  had  hitherto 
regarded  as  irrefragable  proofs  of  the  divinity  of  Jesus.  I  was  soon 
not  only  accustomed  to  hear  the  tendency  of  every  such  passage  flatly 
explained  away,  but  I  also  persuaded  myself  that  it  could  not  be 
otherwise  than  as  I  heard  it  delivered  from  the  pulpit.  Satan  now 
began  to  carry  on  his  work  in  me  ;  and  the  first  thing  he  wrought 
was  a  disregard  and  contempt  for  my  former  teachers  when  at 
school.  In  my  eyes,  they  were  only  ignorant,  weak-minded  people, 
not  worthy  to  unloose  the  shoes'  latchet  of  the  supremely  wise  heads 
of  the  university  ;  nay,  I  even  thought  myself  much  more  enlightened 
than  they. 

The  idea,  indeed,  frequently  recurred  to  me, — what  becomes  of 
Jesus  Christ  if  He  is  not  the  true  God,  and  my  Mediator  and  Ee- 
deemer,  if  His  death  is  not  the  great  means  of  my  reconciliation,  and 
if  He  did  not  shed  His  blood  for  the  remission  of  my  sins  ?  This  idea 
occasionally  made  me  suspect  the  mighty  wisdom  I  heard  from  the 
professor's  chair,  but  only  for  a  very  short  time  ;  for  who  could 
bring  any  objection  against  the  arguments  of  these  teachers — or 
rather,  who  could  resist  their  persuasive  eloquence  ?  Not  I.  I 
attempted,  indeed,  a  few  times,  to  lay  my  perplexities  before  God  in 
prayer,  and  to  implore  His  light ;  but  I  soon  clearly  perceived  that 
my  heart  continued  cold,  and  no  longer  felt  the  emotion  it  had 
formerly  experienced.  The  reason  of  this  was  quite  natural — I  was 
in  reality  already  captivated  by  the  new  system  ;  how,  then,  could 
my  prayer  be  heard,  seeing  that  James  expressly  demands  of  the 
Christian,  in  order  to  pray  in  a  proper  manner,  that  he  '  ask  in  faith, 
nothing  wavering  "  ?  My  earnestness  in  prayer  diminished  still 
more,  when,  according  to  the  new  dogmatical  system,  prayer  was 
asserted  to  be  no  longer  that  which  it  had  hitherto  been  to  me.  It 
was  thus  my  faith  was  tossed  hither  and  thither  amidst  a  thousand 
doubts  ;  and  it  would  certainly  have  suffered  a  total  shipwreck,  if 
the  adorable  Saviour  of  souls  had  not  intervened  and  raised  up  for 
me  a  patron  and  a  friend,  who  made  it  a  matter  of  conscience  to 
draw  me  back  from  the  gulf  which  yawned  before  me."  The  title  of 
the  book  is  "The  Return  to  Taith  ;  exemplified  in  the  Life  of 
William  Kollner ;  written  by  Himself."  The  English  translation 
was  published  in  London  in  1836. 


SL  Andj^ews.  23 


modesty.  He  was  manly,  yet  humble ;  willing  to 
learn,  and  tenacious  of  what  he  had  found  to  be  true. 
Unobtrusive,  but  not  timid,  he  thought  and  acted  for 
himself. 

Of  theological  controversies  his  knowledge  was, 
of  course,  at  this  stage  imperfect;  but  his  early 
philosophical  and  philological  readings  at  St.  Andrews 
prepared  him  for  the  deeper  and  larger  discussions 
of  his  after  years. 

His  linguistic  tastes  soon  displayed  themselves, 
and  his  facility  for  acquiring  languages  found  scope 
to  itself  in  different  channels,  apart  from  his  im- 
mediate and  direct  studies.  It  was  now  that  he  laid 
the  foundations  of  that  minute  and  correct  know- 
ledge of  comparative  grammar  and  philology  which 
he  carried  with  him  to  the  last.  The  niceties  of 
language,  both  classical  and  modern,  were  peculiarly 
his  study,  not  only  as  regards  grammar,  but  the 
origin  and  function  of  words, — the  history  of  particles 
which  sometimes  escape  notice  from  the  common 
philologist.  No  one  could  converse  with  him  on 
such  subjects  without  feeling  how  completely  he  was 
master  of  the  delicacies  and  beauties  of  words,  and 
how  well  he  had  learned,  both  in  conversation  and 
correspondence,  to  make  use  of  his  linguistic  studies. 
His  leisure  hours,  or  indeed  any  minutes  that  could 
be  spared  from  the  regular  curriculum,  were  divided 


24  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

between  philology  and  the  reading  of  Ruskin's  works, 
which  had  cast  their  spell  over  him  at  this  time. 

Though  he  was  obliged  latterly,  on  account  of  his 
immense  correspondence,  to  write  rapidly,  his  letters 
were  remarkably  correct  and  flowing.  Though  time 
did  not  allow  him  to  go  through  a  philological  course 
of  study,  still  he  did  not  read  superficially,  but 
pushed  his  way  by  a  natural  linguistic  sagacity  into 
etymological  details  with  great  completeness  and 
accuracy.  He  made  himself  acquainted  with  almost 
everything  that  was  in  the  line  of  philological  dis- 
covery for  many  years ;  not  only  in  English,  but  in 
German  and  French.  The  reading  might  sometimes 
be  rapid  in  his  busy  years,  but  it  was  sufficient 
to  render  him  master  of  such  details  as  were  new 
to  him. 

In  all  these  departments  of  study  his  accuracy  was 
conspicuous.  His  philological  memory  was  very 
retentive,  aided,  no  doubt,  by  the  delicacy  of  his 
musical  ear.  Words  were  to  him  real  pictures,  or, 
rather,  living  things, — creatures  with  souls.  The 
simplest  sounds  of  language  were  fraught  with  mean- 
ing to  his  ear.  To  natural  sounds  as  well  as  to 
natural  objects  he  used  to  trace  up  simple  and 
common  words. 

He  loved  the  classics  and  studied  them.  The 
study  of  them  connected  itself  with  philology,  which 


S^.  Andrews. 


would  have  ultimately  become  a  "ruling  passion" 
with  him  had  not  higher  objects  risen  into  view. 
But  the  love  of  Christ's  Gospel  and  the  desire  to 
preach  it  to  his  fellow-men,  far  off  or  near,  soon 
absorbed  other  longings.  Philology  was  to  him  an 
intensely  kuman  study,  branching  off  in  so  many 
various  directions,  such  as  the  character  and  history 
of  ancient  races  and  religions,  and  capable  of  being 
used  most  effectively  as  a  buttress  of  Christian  truth. 
He  thought  that  whatever  there  might  be  of  doubt 
or  conflict  in  scientific  discovery,  the  evidence  of 
history  and  language  was  overwhelming  in  favour  of 
the  Bible  and  its  truths. 

Mathematics  lacked  interest  to  him,  though  he 
studied  them.  They  were  not  human  enough  for 
him.  Homo  sum  might  well  have  been  his  motto 
in  the  choice  of  his  studies.  Their  abstractions  did 
not  contain  enough  of  humanity  to  attract  him 
beyond  a  certain  point.  The  abstractions  of  meta- 
physics were  more  akin  to  flesh  and  blood. 

At  St.  Andrews,  however,  he  overstudied.  Here 
that  temperament,  which  was  both  his  weakness  and 
his  strength,  showed  itself.  Not  only  did  he  here 
manifest  that  true-heartedness  in  doing  work,  which 
came  out  in  his  after-life ;  but  his  love  of  knowledge 
impelled  him.  He  had  no  relish  for  the  follies  of 
college  life.     It  was  not  merely  that  he  felt  bound  to 


26  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

do  well  all  that  he  did  ;  but  he  could  not  help  him- 
self. He  went  into  all  his  studies  with  ardour  and 
wholeheartedness.  He  loved  study  for  its  own  sake. 
But  he  studied  too  closely  and  continuously.  As  in 
the  last  year  of  his  life  it  was  evident  that  there  was 
a  sort  of  almost  morbid  fervency  in  his  zeal,  impelling 
him  forward,  and  leading  him  to  forget  both  his 
bodily  and  mental  frame ;  so  it  appears  to  have  been 
at  college.  He  injured  himself,  and  retarded  by 
nearly  two  years,  his  projected  curriculum  of  study ; 
perhaps,  too,  sowing  the  seeds  of  weakness  and 
exhaustion  in  his  constitution.  The  overwork  and 
illness  supervening  hindered  him  from  taking  his 
degree,  and  compelled  him  for  a  time  to  retire  from 
college  study,  and  to  relieve  himself  by  accepting  a 
tutorship,  as  we  shall  see ;  in  the  discharge  of  which 
he  not  only  secured  rest,  but  was  enabled  to  brace 
himself  for  future  work.  He  then  gave  ample  proof 
of  his  accomplishments,  not  only  as  possessing  the 
needful  knowledge,  but  as  singularly  able  to  com- 
municate it  to  the  young.  He  was  a  thorough  and 
skilful  teacher. 

All  the  little  things  of  early  life  tell  in  many  ways 
upon  the  greater  things  of  busy  and  more  earnest 
years.  The  little  movements  of  a  child's  life,  or  a 
boy's  life,  do  not  terminate  with  childhood  or  boy- 
hood, but  project  themselves  into  the   far   future. 


S^.  Andrews.  27 


The  trivial  crosses,  or  sorrows,  or  joys,  or  occupations, 
or  friendships,  work  themselves  into  our  lifetime's 
history ;  and  we  are  often,  when  least  aware  of  it, 
making  use  of  what  we  passed  through  in  those 
years  of  whose  events  we  remember  but  little.  Our 
books  of  childhood,  with  their  stories,  their  songs, 
their  hymns,  their  quaint  and  rude  illustrations,  make 
themselves  visible  in  manhood,  and  mould  our  later 
being.  The  traits  of  character,  too,  but  half  developed 
in  youth,  and  sometimes  unduly  self-suppressed,  or 
unfairly  dealt  with  by  unskilful  instructors  or  parents, 
— sometimes,  perhaps,  unwisely  cherished  or  left 
untrained  through  negligence  or  partiality,  come  out 
to  tinge,  with  their  peculiarities  of  good  or  evil,  the 
manhood  with  which  they  are  all  inseparably  linked. 
In  such  men  as  Mr.  Dodds,  it  is  interesting  to  con- 
nect the  boy  with  the  man, — St.  Andrews  with  Paris, 
— and  see  how  God  was  training  His  servant  for  his 
future  brief  but  important  work. 

St.  Andrews  and  Paris  are  somewhat  distant  from 
each  other.  The  turret  of  St.  Regulus  is  not  to  be 
discerned  from  the  towers  of  Notre  Dame.  But  here 
there  is  a  link  between  them.  Some  one,  perhaps, 
having  heard  the  story  of  the  St.  Andrews  student 
and  his  work  on  the  banks  of  the  Seine,  will,  the 
next  time  he  ascends  the  tower  of  the  great  French 
cathedral,  turn  his  eye  wistfully  northward  and  mark 


28  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

the  direction  in  which  lie  St.  Andrews  and  Dundee, 
eight  hundred  miles  between. 

Yet  it  is  Mr.  Dodds  the  missionary,  not  Mr.  Dodds 
the  scholar  or  the  student,  that  will  be  the  connecting 
link  in  many  minds  between  France  and  Scotland  in 
our  day.  His  early  preparation  for  his  French  work, 
which  we  have  thus  briefly  noticed,  may  lead  some  of 
our  students  to  look  the  subject  in  the  face,  even  in 
their  undergraduate  studies,  and  quietly  consider 
what  bearing  "  the  Arts  Classes "  may  have  upon 
their  ultimate  career.  Mr.  Dodds,  as  we  shall  see, 
had  his  eye  early  upon  the  mission  field,  though  he 
came  to  no  final  decision  ;  so  they  may  look  a  little 
before  them,  and,  without  deciding  anything  in  the 
early  part  of  their  curriculum,  may  so  shape  some  of 
their  studies  that  they  may  be  more  ready  for 
mission  work,  should  that  be  the  door  of  usefulness 
which  may  open  to  them. 

But  it  is  hardly  worth  while  to  dwell  on  these 
things.  The  later  part  of  his  life  completely  absorbed 
the  earlier,  and  his  name  will  always  be  connected 
with  Paris,  not  with  St.  Andrews  or  Edinburgh. 
Only  one  likes  to  draw  together  the  various  links  in 
the  career  of  such  a  man.  They  formed  part  of  one 
life,  and  that  not  a  common  one  :  and  though,  at  the 
time,  unimportant,  they  all,  with  more  or  less 
power  and  distinctness,  combined  to  make  him  what 


S^.  Andrews.  29 


he  afterwards  became.  Our  early  college  life  is  like 
the  underground  stage  of  the  tree,  when  its  whole 
future  is  wrapped  up  in  a  small  brown  seed,  very 
unlike  its  full-grown  greatness.  But  we  have 
pleasure  at  times  in  comparing  the  seed  with  the 
tree,  and  thinking  how  much  of  the  mature  excellence 
was  owing  to  the  hidden  process  which  foretold  little 
of  what  was  to  come,  and  yet  which  was  absolutely 
necessary  to  the  development  both  of  flower  and 
fruit. 

Before  closing  this  chapter,  we  may  notice  his 
work  as  a  student.  It  was  while  at  St.  Andrews, 
as  we  have  noticed,  that  he  wrote  the  elaborate 
essay  on  "The  Philosophy  of  Spinoza,"  which  obtained 
the  prize  at  the  Moral  Philosophy  Class  in  the  year 
1870.  It  occupies  one  hundred  and  fifty  octavo  pages 
— half-bound  in  a  volume,  on  whose  title-page  he  has 
transcribed  a  peculiar  motto — 

"A  God  that  could  be  understood  would  be  no  God  at  all," 

in  the  German  manuscript  style, — showing  how,  even 
at  this  time,  he  had  not  only  mastered  that  language, 
but  had  taught  himself  its  peculiar  style  of  penman- 
ship. In  order  to  write  this  essay,  he  must  have  read 
very  considerably,  and  mastered  several  little-known 
volumes,  both  of  philosophy  and  history,  in  Latin, 
French,  German,  as  well  as  in  English.    The  essay  is 


30  Memoir  of  Rev.  G,  T,  Dodds. 

no  copy  or  reproduction  of  other  men's  thoughts.  It 
is  the  result  of  a  most  minute  study  of  Spinoza  him- 
self, and  the  analysis  of  his  works  in  general,  as  well 
as  of  his  philosophy,  shows  how  completely  he  had 
grasped  Spinoza's  thoughts,  subtle  as  these  are,  and 
difficult  to  lay  hold  of.  The  brief  sketch  of  the 
philosopher's  life  is  very  interesting.  The  precocious 
Jewish  boy,  Baruch  (afterwards  translated  into  Bene- 
dict) Spinoza,  the  pupil  of  the  Eabbis, — the  scorner 
of  Eabbinical  traditions,  the  questioner  both  of 
Judaism  and  Christianity,  the  subtle  logician,  the 
assailant  of  all  religions,  the  accomplished  pantheist, 
the  proud  egotist, — all  these  different  revelations  of 
character  and  intellect,  displaying  no  ordinary  power 
and  genius,  are  brought  out  with  great  skill  and 
vividness  in  Mr.  Dodds'  essay.  It  is  the  production 
of  a  man  of  forty,  not  of  a  student  of  nineteen. 

We  pass  over  the  masterly  analysis  of  Spinoza's 
ethics  and  theological  speculations  given  in  the 
first  sixty  pages  of  the  essay ;  and  we  present  an 
extract  as  to  the  logical  and  mental  processes  of  the 
philosopher : — 

"  We  have  particular  objections  to  offer  to  Spinoza's  use  of 
the  deductive  method,  and  his  potent,  rigid,  but  very  irrational 
logic  in  use  along  with  the  deductions.  There  are  dangers 
attending  the  exclusive  use  of  logic.  There  are  dangers  attend- 
ing the  exclusive  occupation  of  the  intellect,  apart  from  all 
other  faculties  which  deserve  as  much  attention  as  either  of 


S^,  Andrews.  31 


these.  Instead  of  becoming  developments  of  our  nature  for 
aiding  others,  and  for  mutual  help,  these  undoubtedly  at  last 
become  mere  excrescences.  They  become  quite  unnatural  and 
stiff,  because  they  have  been  so  long  accustomed  to  stand  by 
themselves.  They  come  to  lose  all  inherent  life,  just  as  the 
arm  of  the  devotee  becomes  stiff,  and  in  a  manner  lifeless,  by 
being  held  for  a  long  period  in  one  position.  Thus,  these 
faculties  are  unable  to  recognise  their  relative  power:  their 
dependence  on  higher  principles.  They  cannot  see  the  use  of 
any  other  faculties,  for  they  are  deluded  into  a  false  idea  that 
they  are  sufficient  and  self-supporting.  Their  lifelessness  and 
rigidity  prevents  them  combining  with  the  other  faculties  of  our 
nature.  Thus,  while  these  are  lifeless  and  rigid — the  others,  by 
neglect,  or  denial  of  their  existence,  become  no  less  so.  Spinoza 
fell  into  error  here.  He  developed  his  one  sole  idea  at  the 
expense  of  the  most  important  parts  of  our  nature,  and  whether 
he  saw  the  necessity  of  not  acknowledging  or  boldly  denying 
their  existence,  it  comes  to  the  same  result, — they  have  or  cannot 
have  any  place  in  the  system. 

"  We  find  fault  with  Spinoza's  use  of  logic,  for  logic  is  only 
the  formal  and  instrumental  part  of  truth.  When  logic  occupies 
the  place  of  reason,  we  entirely  'lose  the  sense  of  elementary 
truth,  and  the  very  instincts  of  our  nature.'  Then  logic  becomes 
irreverent  of  all  truths  higher  than  itself ;  becomes  irrational  by 
denying  reason  its  place.  '  Nothing  is  so  terrible  as  logic  in 
irrationality.'  Logic  may  give  form,  and  even  energy  to  reason, 
but  it  cannot  create  the  facts,  or  give  us  the  impressions  pro- 
duced by  facts,  or  produce  in  our  minds  conviction  of  the  truth 
of  principles  founded  on  these  facts  :  it  may  assist,  but  a  logical 
deductive  process  will  not  stand  alone  and  precede  reason. 

"  Logic,  as  an  abstraction,  Pascal  hints,  may  shake  every- 
thing, do  away  with  intuition,  lead  to  fatalism  and  utter 
scepticism. 

"The  application  of  mathematical  reasoning  by  Spinoza  to  his 


32  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

ethics  is  most  unjust  and  false.  We  know  that  we  are  to  pro- 
ceed onwards,  and  get  at  last  to  something  by  means  of  inductive 
steps.  This,  at  least,  holds  true  in  a  philosophy  of  the  human 
mind.  Geometrical  reasoning  is  the  very  opposite.  The  sub- 
ject in  mathematical  reasoning  is  identical  with  the  attribute. 
Thus,  two  and  two  make  four  ;  when  we  have  the  word  '  four,* 
we  simply  give  a  new  name  to  two  plus  two ;  we  do  not  describe 
a  property  of  two  plus  two.  This  rigid  logic  of  Spinoza  became 
transformed  into  sophistry ;  he  proved,  or  tried  to  prove,  too 
much  ;  and  so  his  reasoning  put  reason  at  last  to  flight. 

"  There  is  nothing,  on  the  whole,  so  entirely  injurious  to  the 
mind,  as  a  continual  use  of  logic  to  the  exclusion  of  all  else. 
Spinoza  is  a  remarkable  example  of  this.  Facts  are  nothing  to 
him  ;  and  between  facts  and  a  logical  exigence  he  never  hesi- 
tates. His  mind  became,  at  last,  utterly  callous  to  all  feeling 
or  moral  sentiment,  by  grasping  with  so  firm  a  hold  such  a  hard 
and  heartless  tool  as  that  of  logic.  Scientific  deduction,  logical 
dexterity  and  potentiality  are  not  what  improve  the  judgments 
of  a  man's  mind.  They  would  seem  to  tend  to  make  it  less  and 
less  delicate  in  its  perceptions  ;  and  the  intellect  thus  treated 
finds  itself  embarrassed  even  in  the  midst  of  the  realities  of 
life. 

"  Spinoza's  method  utterly  excludes  the  possibility  of  arriving 
at  satisfactory  results  in  the  science  of  ethics ;  and  yet  he  writes 
on  all  the  subjects  that  are  connected  with  such  a  science.  The 
highest  moral  problems — man's  most  sacred  and  precious  inter- 
ests, are  rigorously  examined,  and  generally  in  a  way  included 
in  his  ethics.  The  cold,  senseless  weapon  of  his  too  potent  logic 
could  never  fail  to  bring  him  to  the  conclusions  he  came  to. 
It  was  indeed  a  'free  necessity'  that  led  him  or  impelled 
him  on. 

"  The  use  of  a  purely  a  priori  method  in  treating  of  ethical  or 
any  philosophical  subjects  is  vicious.  It  leads  the  reasoner  to 
reason  in  a  circle :  he  never  gets  one  step  beyond  his  beginning, 


kS/.  Andrews. 


33 


he  repeats  in  different  forms  what  was  said  at  first.  The 
employment  of  such  a  method  leads  to  no  results.  The  adop- 
tion of  a  synthetic  instead  of  an  analytic  method  is  of  no  use  for 
further  knowledge  ;  it  leads  us  round  in  a  circle,  but  never  con- 
ducts us  on  to  anything  else.  There  is  a  necessity  of  an  a  priori 
element  in  all  philosophy ;  indeed,  it  is  a  part  of  our  philo- 
sophical basis  ;  but  the  exclusive  use  of  it  leads  to  no  results 
whatever. 

"  We  object  very  much  to  his  geometrical  process  of  reasoning. 
If  there  is  any  method  of  reasoning  that  cannot  with  any  sense 
be  applied  to  metaphysics,  ethics,  or  even  psychology,  it  is  that 
of  geometrical  reasoning.  Metaphysics,  in  all  its  problems,  is 
doomed  to  a  kind  of  uncertainty,  which  cannot  be  got  rid  of. 
Ethics  is  not  an  established  and  unchangeable  science  in  the 
sense  that  geometry  and  algebra  are.  We  believe,  no  doubt,  in 
facts  connected  with  our  mental  and  moral  nature  ;  but  every 
person  does  not  accept  these  facts  ;  and  even  if  he  accepts  them, 
does  not  build  on  them  the  same  structure  as  we  do.  No  person 
ever  thinks  of  denying  the  axioms,  postulates,  propositions, 
corollaries  of  geometry.  No  person  ever  thinks  of  questioning  the 
truth  of  an  equation  or  an  algebraical  sum,  after  proof  by  the 
deductive  process.  When  we  come  into  the  region  of  meta- 
physics and  ethics,  we  are  in  an  entirely  different  position.  We 
feel  as  if  we  were  in  the  twilight  of  knowledge,  in  a  dusky  and 
debateable  land  ;  where,  unless  the  ideas  we  trust  in  had  some 
unresolvable  substance  of  their  own,  darkness  and  gloom  would 
certainly  reign  supreme.  The  line  of  the  horizon  of  metaphysical 
and  ethical  truth  is  to  some  extent  always  irregular  and  undefined. 
It  is  sometimes  as  difficult  to  mark  the  time  of  sunrise  as  of 
sunset,  uncertainty  seems  to  be  so  strong  ;  too  powerful  for  our 
eyesight.  We  are  to  lay  what  basis  we  can  for  a  true  develop- 
ment of  metaphysical  and  ethical  science  ;  and  strive  with  our 
utmost  power  to  show  the  tenableness  of  this  basis,  and  the 
certain  untenableness  of  all  others.    But  we  cannot  demonstrate 

D 


34  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

in  metaphysical  regions  and  ethical  regions,  as  we  can  in  the  dry 
and  arid  regions  of  geometry.  Life  has  a  mystery  about  it, 
which  will  not  submit  to  the  rigorous,  cold,  and  untesting 
weapon  of  logic  or  geometrical  reasoning.  We  must  be  content 
to  accept  what  is  given  us  clearly,  and  which  is  its  own  evidence. 
It  is  insolent  to  insist  on  demonstration  :  at  a  certain  degree  of 
evidence,  evidence  ceases  to  be  found  ;  for  what  was  evidence  in 
the  object,  we  have  now  certainty  in  the  subject.  For  evidence 
is  a  quality  of  the  object ;  while  certainty  is  a  condition  of  the 
subject.  It  is  a  condition  of  the  subject,  and  we  are  surely 
above  all  things,  conditioned  to  accept — without  questioning — 
that  of  which  we  may  be  said  to  be  the  condition.  Spinoza 
could  not  see  that  the  lifelessness  and  abstract  qualities  of 
geometry  had  nothing  whatever  to  do  with  subjects  which 
involve  all  the  problems  of  our  life.  It  is  undoubtedly  true 
that  'algebra  does  not  mingle  with  the  air  we  breathe.'  Neither 
has  it  anything  to  do  with  the  source — the  cause  of  the  phases 
of  our  mysterious  existence." 

We  add  another  extract  which  shows  us  how 
thoroughly  the  author  had  apprehended  Spinoza's 
views,  and  how  clearly  he  saw  the  fallacies  on  which 
they  were  based.  The  general  reader  may  not  follow 
what  we  have  quoted,  but  the  student  will ;  and 
whether  he  agrees  with  Mr.  Dodds's  argument  or 
not,  will  acknowledge  its  fairness  and  acuteness : — 

"  Spinoza  denies  freewill  to  God  and  man.  We  have  been 
attempting  to  show  that  there  is  such  a  thing  as  freewill  in 
man,  and  it  cannot  therefore  be  denied  to  God;  for,  again, 
fatalism — necessity  could  not  give  rise  to  freedom,  but  the  very 
opposite.  If  it  is  established  for  man,  it  is  also  established  for 
God.      No  more  can  the  Infinite  come  from  the  finite,  the 


S^.  Andrews.  35 


Unconditioned  from  the  conditioned,  than  freewill  from  fatality 
or  blind  necessity. 

"  The  application  of  such  views  of  our  nature  to  his  whole 
philosophy  does  not  make  us  at  all  wonder  at  the  view  he  takes 
of  God. 

"  There  we  are  led  into  a  very  confusing  and  peculiar  way  of 
treatment.  In  his  struggle  to  get  face  to  face  with  undetermined 
being,  Spinoza's  God  becomes  a  pure  abstraction  from  whence 
there  can  come  nothing.  As  he  sees  this,  he  goes  on  to  subtle 
disquisition  on  perfection  and  imperfection.  Even  his  own 
slighted  consciousness  condemns  him,  and  he  tries  to  account 
for  his  views,  and  show  their  tenableness  ;  and  at  last  exhausts 
himself  in  mere  contradictory  jargon.  The  dilemmas  in  which 
M.  Saisset  so  clearly  involves  him,  in  his  arguments  about  the 
nature  of  God  need  only  be  referred  to  here.  If  ever  the  logic 
of  Spinoza  received  a  destructive  blow  at  all,  it  was  when 
Saisset  framed  these  dilemmas. 

"  Spinoza  takes  his  stand  on — 

*  Omnis  determinatio  negatio  est,' 
and  he  must  get  to  undetermined  being.  He  tries  and  fails, 
because  from  undetermined  being  he  cannot  proceed  one  step  ; 
if  he  does  succeed  in  advancing,  it  is  at  the  expense  of  contra- 
dicting himself  at  every  step.  Suppose  a  perfect  absolutely 
undetermined  existence  :  the  very  opposite,  and  not  only  nega- 
tive of  this  must  Le  determined  and  imperfect  being.  It  is 
surely  evident  that  one  opposite  is  not  the  cause,  or  to  keep  in 
pantheistic  phraseology  '  an  emanation '  of  its  counter-opposite. 
Therefore,  how  can  absolutely  perfect  being  give  rise  to  imperfect 
being  ;  how  could  that  which  is  of  itself,  and  absolutely 
undetermined,  give  rise  to  determined  being  ;  how,  in  other 
words,  could  it  determine  itself.  By  Spinoza's  definition,  all- 
absorbing  as  it  is,  of  substance  as  the  one  being,  he  cannot 
begin  to  add  on  to  it  consistently ;  and  yet  he  does  so.  He  tells 
us  it  is  *an  absolute  necessity'  for  the  perfect  to  become 


36  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  Z".  Dodds, 

imperfect ;  but,  as  Professor  Saisset  says,  *  That  is  a  big  word, 
intended  to  palliate  a  perfectly  arbitrary  hypothesis.'  The 
absurdity  of  this  assumption  prevents  its  refutation  by  us  ;  it 
refutes  itself.  A  weighty  sentence  from  Montesquieu  strikes  us 
as  very  appropriate  here  :  '  Those  who  have  said  that  a  blind 
fatality  has  produced  all  the  effects  which  we  see  in  the  world, 
have  said  a  great  absurdity  ;  for  what  greater  absurdity  than  a 
blind  fatality,  which  should  have  produced  intelligent  beings ' 
('  Esprit  des  Lois,'  Bk.  I.,  cap.  i.).  And  so  it  is  as  great  an 
absurdity,  and  a  patent  contradiction,  for  Spinoza  to  say  that 
the  perfect  begets  the  imperfect,  the  undetermined  the  deter- 
mined. For  Spinoza  it  is  not  allowable  at  all ;  in  other 
philosophies  it  is  different,  for  our  views  of  the  created  and 
Infinite  Being  have  not  the  boldness  and  arbitrariness  of  his. 
We  do  not  know  the  Infinite, — the  Absolute  ;  Spinoza  thought 
he  did,  and  miserably  failed  in  the  attempted  exposition  of  his 
thought. 

"  Spinoza  falls  into  the  same  error  likewise,  in  viewing  God 
under  the  attributes  he  distinguishes  or  determines  Him  by. 
God,  by  Himself,  has  no  ideas,  and  does  not  think  in  any 
particular  (for  that  would  be  a  determination)  way.  He  is 
pure  undetermined  thought.  Again  the  absurdity  rises.  As 
God  is  all,  and  includes  all  in  One,  how  is  it  possible  that  ideas 
and  souls,  the  avowed  determinations  of  thought,  arise  1  This  is 
just  a  repetition  of  the  former  fallacy.  Undetermined  thought 
cannot  give  rise  to  determined  thought.  Either  perfection 
springs  out  of  imperfection,  or  imperfection  out  of  perfection  ; 
and  both  are  equally  absurd  according  to  the  rigorous  and  clear 
definitions  we  have  from  Spinoza. 

"The  same  fault  comes  out,  namely,  contradiction,  if  we 
consider  God  in  reference  to  both  thought,  extension,  and 
the  modes.  I  am  then  a  mode  :  *  I  am  part  and  particle ' 
(Emerson)  of  God  ;  and  therefore  my  own  individuality  is  gone  ; 
I  am  absorbed  in  God's  nature  ;  by  abdicating  my  individual 


SL  Andrews.  2)1 


character,  my  personal  identity  is  entirely  lost,  and  how  can  I 
say  any  longer  I  exist ;  I  think  I  act,  I  afl&rni.  Thus  (as 
M.  Saisset  shows),  in  afl&rming  God,  Spinoza  contradicts  him- 
self ;  '  by  distinguishing  himself  from  Him,  by  placing  himself 
in  His  presence  as  a  real  subject,  as  a  thinking  and  living 
individuality.'  The  pantheist  cannot  escape  his  contradictions, 
but  he  completes  what  was  wanting  in  his  system  of  contra- 
dictions. By  a  sweeping  generalisation  he  boldly  postulates  for 
his  own  convenience  and  his  system,  the  greatest  of  all  contra- 
dictions ;  he  speaks  of  '  the  principle  of  the  identity  of  contra- 
dictories.' Nothing  and  being  are  identical,  so  are  the  unit  and 
zero.  In  the  Hegelian  language,  '  Sein  =  Nichts, — -i.e.,  being  = 
nothing.'  Pantheism,  after  it  has  reached  such  absurdities  as 
this,  may  truly  be  regarded  as  beyond  the  power  of  refutation  ; 
we  cannot  refute  nothing.  *  It  has  taken  away  every  link  to 
connect  it  with  common  sense,  with  any  human  thought,  or  with 
any  human  language.' " 

We  leave  this  very  able  essay  by  quoting  in  full 
its  concluding  pages, — acute,  clear,  and  eloquent : — 

"  We  have  now  finished  our  examination  of  Spinoza's  philo- 
sophy. Many  more  objections  might  be  urged,  and  much  more 
said  still  against  such  a  system,  but  it  is  enough  that  we  have 
tried  to  show  its  chief  and  most  evident  defects.  The  faults  we 
could  easily  find  against  a  system  that  denies  the  liberty,  and 
even  the  reality  of  the  creature,  would  be  endless,  for  a  man 
who  uses  his  liberty  and  employs  his  own  reality  as  a  being,  to 
deny,  what  he  acknowledges  in  using  for  that  very  denial, 
must  necessarily  involve  himself  in  endless  contradictions. 

"It  is  a  deplorable  thing  to  see  men  who  might  have  been 
truly  great,  coolly  and  coldly  destroy  part  of  their  own  nature 
and  become  a  dialectical  apparatus,  a  reasoning  machine,  without 
feeling  and  without  even  sense.  It  is  a  good  thing  that  men 
such  as  Spinoza  did  not  live  as  they  thought  and  wrote,  else  the 


38  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 

very  world  itself  would  be  scandalised.  '  Thought,'  says  Vinet, 
'may  brutalise  when  separated  from  feeling,  conscience,  or 
evidence.'  Again,  he  says,  '  All  the  symbolisms  in  the  world, 
all  the  efforts  of  the  most  vast  intellectual  powers,  could  never 
originate  in  the  soul  the  least  sentiment  of  justice  and  injustice, 
the  least  notion  of  duty.  The  intellect  may  fertilise  this  germ — 
indeed,  this  fertilisation  cannot  take  place  without  the  intellect ; 
but  the  germ  pre-exists.'  And  yet  the  great  intellectual  powers 
and  vast  comprehensive  mind  of  Spinoza  did  not  perceive,  or 
would  not  acknowledge  this. 

"The  system  of  Spinoza  is  one  complete  whole: — so  rigor- 
ously fixed  is  it  that  it  cannot  change  in  one  point  that  is 
important  without  changing  altogether.  And  men  admire 
this  system,  and  hold  it  up  as  an  example  of  patience — of 
untiring  investigation.  Mr.  Hunt,  in  his  essay  on  Pantheism, 
— a  very  ordinary  book  we  think, — hints  at  some  comparison 
between  Spinoza  and  '  Him  who  was  pre-eminently  the  teacher 
of  religion  to  men.'  He  aggrandises  Spinoza,  but  never  thinks 
of  showing — as  he  might  and  ought  to  have  done — the  impious 
assumption  and  blasphemous  declarations  of  this  '  God-intoxi- 
cated '  man.  It  is  a  wicked  comparison, — that  of  Spinoza  and 
Christ.  A  man  with  any  reverence  for  the  Divinity  and 
unapproachable  holiness  of  Christ,  the  God-man,  would  never 
think  of  venturing  even  the  thought  of  a  likeness  between  the 
two.  It  painfully  reveals  to  us  the  fact  that  pantheism  has  not 
been  without  its  seductive,  deceptive,  and  corrupting  influences 
on  Mr.  Hunt's  mind.  He  talks  of  wisdom  being  justified  in  her 
children,  asserts  the  rights  of  reason  to  be  heard  in  matters 
where  faith — faith  in  God — is  alone  of  any  use.  Keason  will 
assert  her  right  to  be  heard  in  her  views  of  the  divinest  myster- 
ies. This  is  what  is  continually  being  harped  upon  in  our  ears 
by  other  men  than  Mr.  Hunt ;  as  if  the  soul  of  man  had  not  ^er 
rights,  and  must  also  assert  them  ;  and  that  transcendently  far 
above  the  reach  of  reason's  impious  grasp.     Then,  if  a  word  is 


6*/.  Andrews.  39 


said  against  these  philosophers,  we  are  told  '  adt,  nauseam,'  that 
their  whole  life  was  a  pursuit  of  and  a  devotion  to  truth.  The 
search  for  truth  becomes  multitudinous  in  its  variety  of  objects. 
All  get  the  name  of  truth,  however  much  the  one  may  deny  the 
other.  What  is  truth  ?  Is  it  not  one  and  the  same  thing  for 
ever  and  ever  ?  It,  and  it  alone,  does  not  accommodate  itself  to 
man's  private  convictions.  Truth  is  made  for  man,  and  he  can- 
not give  it  any  shape  he  please.  If  he  does,  it  is  only  a  creation 
of  his  own  fancy,  and  partakes  no  more  of  the  real  nature 
of  truth  than  the  shadow  partakes  of  the  essence  of  its  substance. 
But  we  are  told :  'These  men  had  their  convictions.'  Yes,  that 
is  true ;  but  every  man  must  have  his  convictions  tried  by  a  rule 
which  is  outside  of  himself :  our  will  cannot  be  the  law  of  our 
will.  Truth  is  not  the  '  ego '  of  any  man  ;  it  is  something  which 
is  uncreated  and  independent  in  its  existence,  which  nothing  can 
bend  into  shape.  '  There  are  some  faults  slight  in  the  sight  of 
love,  some  errors  slight  in  the  estimate  of  wisdom,  but  truth  for- 
gives no  insult,  and  endures  no  stain '  (Ruskin).  How  many 
insults  have  been  heaped,  and  stains  given  to  man's  holiest  feel- 
ings, truest  aspirations,  to  all  that  is  good  and  best  in  his  nature, 
by  these  German  transcend entalists.  Fichte  considered  the 
whole  external  world  the  projection  of  a  universal  ego  proceed- 
ing according  to  the  self-evolving  laws  of  the  universal  mind. 
Is  this  truth  ?  and  if  it  is,  who  can  understand  it  1  To  what 
part  of  man's  nature  does  it  address  itself  for  apprehension  ?  It 
is  quite  true  that  every  man  has  his  convictions,  but  whence 
came  they  ?  '  Each  one  aspires  to  order  his  life  upon  convic- 
tions ;  hut  if  these  convictions  be  only  his  will  disguised,  in 
what  a  vicious  circle  is  he  constrained  to  turn.' 

"  It  was  mournfully  so  with  Spinoza,  with  him  morality  passed 
into  intellect,  mere  notions,  or  the  dimmest  notions  of  ideas  took 
the  place  of  affections,  and  the  mind  supplanted  the  soul.  The 
inner  life  was  dried  up ;  the  functions  of  the  soul  were  deadened, 
and  not  allowed  to  act,  and  the  intellect  was  substituted  in  their 


40  Memoir  of  Rev,  G.  T.  Dodds. 

place.  True  it  is  that  Spinoza  was  a  ^  dupe  of  his  own  drama.' 
Long-continued  study  of  Spinoza's  philosophy  has  left  us  with 
strangely  mingled  thoughts,  and  still  stranger  feelings.  We 
cannot  admire,  we  cannot  call  him  a  truly  great  man,  for  he 
wanted  the  essential  element  of  greatness.  Was  he  humble  ? 
Historians  say  so,  and  yet  he  regarded  humility  as  a  weakness, 
and  considered  that  of  all  the  follies  that  ever  entered  into  the 
minds  of  men,  the  folly  of  repentance  was  the  greatest.  Strange 
contradiction  this,  that  a  man  should  possess  and  exhibit  that 
very  quality  which  he  despised.  Eenan  supplies  us  with  a 
remarkable  saying :  *  Great  intellect  knows  no  resipiscence,  and 
high  art  has  nothing  to  repent  of.' 

"  Spinoza  was  very  much  of  a  Stoic  in  his  own  way.  He 
regarded  life  with  supreme  indifference,  and  lived  careless  of 
consequences.  Absolute  scepticism  led  to  the  dissolution  even 
of  thought,  as  exclusive  thought  led  to  continued  and  confirmed 
moral  indifferentism.  Spinoza  had  nursed  a  stoical  nature, 
peculiar  in  its  kind,  and  not  to  be  compared  with  the  sublime 
Stoicism  of  these  '  seekers  after  God,'  Marcus  Aurelius,  Seneca, 
and  Epictetus.  His  life  is  a  beacon  of  warning  to  those  who  are 
tempted  to  go  to  utter  wreck  and  ruin  on  the  shoals  of  moral 
indifferentism. 

"  If  man  is  to  continue  a  religious  being  or  a  moral  agent,  and 
if  he  is  all  that  already — then  Spinoza's  philosophy  is  false, 
absolutely  false.  No  man  could  worship  Spinoza's  God  ;  no 
man  could  rise  to  that  communion  which  all  earnest,  truthful 
spirits  long  for  and  cherish.  No  man  could  love  the  meta- 
physical entity — lifeless — while  it  strangely  possessed  the  power 
of  extinguishing  all  life  in  the  soul  of  man.  No  man  can  look 
forward  to  the  so-called  immortality  which  Spinoza  provides  for 
him,  unless  he  desires  annihilation ;  and  that,  we  know,  man 
will  ever  desire  in  vain.  Eepentance,  and  all  the  graces  of 
humility — the  beauty  of  self-denying  love,  and  charity,  of  mercy 
and  meekness — are  banished  from  this  system.     No  man  could, 


SL  Andrews.  41 


therefore,  feel  his  lost  estate,  and  the  need  of  a  Saviour,  which 
is  an  uneradicable  instinct  in  the  heart  of  men. 

"  Spinoza  speaks  of  Christ ;  but  it  is  plain  he  does  not  regard 
Him  as  Christ,  the  only  Son  of  the  living  God.  Sadder  shadows 
could  hardly  flit  before  our  mind's  eye  than  do  now  ;  for  they 
are  shadows  from  the  darkened  and  polluted  sanctity  of  a  man's 
soul,  which,  had  it  been  listened  to,  would  have  been  the  light 
of  life.  The  damping  breath  of  fride  came  upon  the  glass 
through  which  he  saw  darkly,  and  once  for  all  completely 
darkened  the  glass.  But  the  man  no  longer  believed  it  to  be 
dark  ;  he  thought  he  saw  clearly  through  it.  He  was  deceived. 
It  was  his  own  abstractions  which  he  saw  reflected  in  that  glass, 
and  he  mistook  them  for  what  was  now  completely  enveloped  in 
eternal  darkness  beyond.  The  words  of  Schleiermacher  can  be 
appropriated  by  us.  '  He  delighted  to  contemplate  himself  in 
the  mirror  of  an  eternal  world,  where,  doubtless,  he  saw  himself 
reflected  as  its  most  lovely  image.' 

"  There  is  nothing  so  dangerous  as  knowledge,  and  the  pride  of 
knowledge,  the  efi"ects  of  which  we  have  strikingly  exemplified 
in  Spinoza.  'Twas  knowledge  brought  sin  into  the  world,  or 
rather  the  imprudent  desire  of  knowledge  ;  and  men,  true  to  the 
disorders  of  their  nature,  are  ever  sinning  the  old  Eve-sin  again. 
What  does  the  extreme  and  exclusive  application  of  one's  mind 
to  knowledge  not  do?  It  dispels  that  necessary  sense  of 
wonder  which  keeps  down  pride  ;  that  preciousness  of  childlike 
simplicity  which  is  the  characteristic  of  true  greatness ;  it 
quenches  in  man  the  capacity  for  devotion,  and  silently  though 
surely  saps  the  strength  of  a  man's  soul.  That  water  which 
ripples  round  the  boat  sparkles  in  the  dim  light  of  an  autumn 
evening  with  a  phosphoric  radiance,  most  wonderful  and  most 
lovely.  Eagerly  desirous,  the  boatman  stretches  out  his  hand 
to  take  some  of  the  water  in  its  palm,  and  discover  for  himself 
what  this  wonderful  light  can  be.  The  water  is  in  his  hand, 
closely  shut,    and  the  treasure  he   believes    to    be  contained 


42  Memoir  of  Rev,  G,  T.  Dodds, 

within.  But  he  opens  his  hand,  and  the  subtile,  mysterious 
light  is  no  longer  there.  It  is  gone,  and  the  water  lies  in  the 
hollow  of  his  hand  colourless  and  wanting  the  beauty  it  had 
there  on  the  open  sea.  The  wonder  is  gone  from  it,  and  all  the 
fine  colour  which  it  had  when  first  he  took  it  from  the  sea.  In 
despair  and  disappointment  he  lets  go  the  oars,  and  flings  him- 
self headlong  into  the  glittering  and  crested  waves,  there  to 
satiate  his  longing.  Was  it  not  thus  with  Spinoza  ?  His 
monument  was  his  tomb ; — there  he  buried  himself,  where  he 
expected  life  ;  but  where  all  life  was  paralysed,  and  knowledge 
was  no  longer  itself,  but  a  delusive  though  dead  imagination." 

"  Every  student's  name  is  legion]'  said  Whitefield, 
speaking  of  the  importance  of  college  life.  To  get 
hold  of  a  student  is  to  get  hold  of  one  whose  future 
life  is  likely  to  tell  more  upon  the  world  than  that  of 
any  other.  The  college  responsibilities,  both  of 
students  and  professors,  are  thus  beyond  all  calcula- 
tion. Affection  on  the  one  side  and  reverence  on 
the  other  have,  in  the  case  of  many  a  missionary  and 
minister,  wrought  wonders.  Such  a  reciprocity  of 
feeling  cannot  commence  too  early.  Dr.  Arnold's 
power  was  one  worth  having,  and  a  position  like  his  was 
immensely  responsible.  Next  to  that  of  a  Christian 
parent,  the  influence  of  a  Christian  teacher  is 
immense.  In  the  life  of  Bengel  there  is  an  interest- 
ing extract  given  from  his  travelling  diary  which  may 
very  suitably  be  quoted  here,  as  containing  hints  for 
students  and  professors  worthy  of  consideration : — 


S^,  Andrews. 


43 


"  Dr.  John  William  Bayer,  Professor  of  Divinity  at  Altorf, 
holds  private  meetings  of  his  students  ;  at  which  he  gives  them 
select  passages  of  Scripture  to  explain,  and  their  expositions  are 
finally  enlarged  and  corrected  by  himself.  As  he  disapproves 
of  too  strict  a  mode  of  education,  he  insists  rather  on  such 
superintendence  and  admonition  as  shall  not  remit  even  during 
those  youthful  recreations  which  his  own  free  and  liberal 
disposition  cheerfully  allows." 

"  Stolthe,  of  Jena,  says,  that  piety  is  at  a  low  ebb  in  Holland, 
because  they  have  nothing  of  the  Cross  there.  Election  to 
grace,  he  said,  is  general ;  but  election  to  glory,  particular  ;  and 
that  the  ninth  chapter  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Eomans  is  to  be 
understood  of  the  election  to  grace,  not  of  the  election  to  glory. 
That  the  merit  of  Christ  is  not  the  original  moving  cause  of 
preventing  grace.  That  tears  should  not  be  suppressed  in  the 
pulpit,  as  they  will  often  speak  to  the  hearts  of  some  of  the 
audience  ;  and  that  ten  persons  at  once  had  recently  been  first 
affected,  and  spiritually  awakened  by  such  simple  means. 
Stolthe  frequently  recruits  himself  with  bodily  labour.  He  is 
very  prudent,  and  never  hastily  puts  confidence  in  any  one." 

"  Junker,  of  Altenburg,  is  a  most  kind  man.  He  admires  the 
regulations  and  methods  at  Halle.  In  teaching  the  classics,  he 
says,  we  should  carefully  explain  the  peculiarities  both  of  Latin 
and  of  German  words,  though  it  may  take  up  much  of  the  time  ; 
and  that  rapid  reading  is  only  useful  to  more  advanced  pupils. 
He  construes  first,  and  the  pupils  repeat  after  him.  He  delivers 
all  his  instructions  in  the  vernacular  tongue.  He  reads  the 
Greek  Testament  through  with  his  pupils  in  the  course  of  a 
year,  taking  every  occasion  for  practical  observations  and 
exhortations  as  he  goes  on.  Pupils  refusing  to  submit  to  order 
after  two  or  three  admonitions,  are  dismissed  from  the  seminary, 
that  he  may  have  no  occasion  for  any  severer  discipline." 

"  Pritius,  of  Frankfort,  observed,  that  all  successful  education 
of  young  persons  depends  quite  as  much  on  attending  to  the 


44  Memoir  of  Rev.  G,  T.  Dodds. 


proper  direction  of  their  will^  as  on  cultivation  of  the  under- 
standing. He  speaks  highly  of  the  writings  of  Poiret,  as  lead- 
ing the  mind  so  directly  to  God  ;  and  recommends  Spener's 
'Advices.'" 

"  Tennhardt  received  me  very  kindly.  He  is  moderate  and 
abstemious  ;  mortifies  the  flesh,  and  is  much  concerned  for  the 
health  of  his  soul.     He  cordially  hates  every  false  way." 

"  Breithaupt,  of  Halle,  is  inclined  to  regard  it  as  one  of  the 
signs  of  '  the  last  time,'  that  the  present  generation  cheats  itself 
with  the  notion  of  its  own  excellence,  dreams  of  being  on  the 
point  of  enjoying  the  very  best  condition,  and  regards  the 
ancients  as  no  better  than  old  women  in  comparison  with 
itself.  These,  he  says,  were  just  the  thoughts  that  men  had  of 
themselves  immediately  before  the  deluge  ;  but  as  '  God  is  not 
mocked,'  so  He  is  not  to  be  imposed  on  by  such  thoughts  as 
these." 

The  paternal  care  exercised  by  these  continental 
professors  of  the  last  century  is  all  the  more  remark- 
able, because  religious  declension,  both  in  life  and 
doctrine,  had  already  set  in,  all  over  Europe,  in  the 
early  days  of  that  illustrious  scholar.  Bengel's 
affection  for  his  pupils  was  not  in  vain;  and  it  is 
touching  to  find  him,  in  one  of  his  letters,  telling  his 
correspondent  that  he  preferred  correspondence  with 
his  old  students  to  that  of  the  literary  men  of  his 
time.  The  chapter  in  his  Memoirs  on  "  Bengel  as 
Tutor  of  a  Theological  Seminary,"  is  specially  full 
of  interest  and  instruction.  Some  tutors  have  spent 
their  strength  in  perverting  the  faith  and  under- 
mining the  religion  of  their  favourite  pupils.    Bengel 


S^.  Andrews.  45 


is  a  fine  specimen  not  only  of  a  thorough  teacher, 
but  of  an  experienced  spiritual  director ;  of  one  who 
knew  his  students  well ;  who  won  their  confidence ; 
who  drew  them  to  himself  by  Christian  affability  and 
tenderness ;  who  sought  them  out  in  their  struggles 
and  perplexities ;  who  bore  with  them  in  all  their 
frowardness ;  who  not  only  made  them  scholars  and 
critics,  but  who  pointed  them  daily  to  the  one  Cross, 
and  led  them  to  the  one  Teacher  and  the  one 
Comforter ;  who  instructed  them  with  wonderful 
power  and  sagacity  in  the  knowledge  of  the  one 
Book.* 

I  am,  however,  anticipating  somewhat.  The  St. 
Andrews  work  was  preliminary.  Theological  study 
was  to  begin  in  Edinburgh. 

*  The  following  paragraph  gives  us  a  specimen  of  the  man  and 
his  mode  of  teaching: — "In  Greek,  I  employ  set  times  for  their 
recollecting  and  clearly  comprehending  the  paradigms  and  gram- 
matical rules.  We  go  through  the  Greek  Testament  in  two  years, 
during  the  first  months  of  which  I  require  the  text  to  be  translated 
quite  literally ;  but  afterwards,  when  I  find  we  can  get '  on  quicker 
and  with  more  confidence,  I  let  them  read  off  sentence  by  sentence 
into  Latin.  The  more  important  passages  are  learnt  by  heart.  To 
increase  our  {copia  verborum)  stock  of  words,  I  conduct  them  through 
Leusden.  After  the  whole  course  of  these  Greek  Testament  lectures 
is  completed,  I  lecture  with  them  upon  Chrysostom's  Treatise  on 
the  Priesthood ;  recommending  to  the  more  advanced  pupils, 
Nonnus's  'Paraphrase  of  St.  John's  Gospel  ;'  and  '  Macarius.'" 


CHAPTER   11. 

CORRESPONDENCE  AFTER  LEAVING  ST.  ANDREWS. 

'E  has  made  friends  at  college ;  and  the  friend- 
ships there  formed  remain.  Some,  of  course, 
are  soon  broken  up,  but  others  are  life-long. 
Mutual  sympathies  and  congenialities  make  them 
permanent. 

These  college  friends  now  pass  into  correspondents; 
widely  separated  from  each  other  in  place,  but 
united  in  affection.  Their  letters  now  reveal  their 
college  experiences ;  recording  reminiscences  of 
study,  trial,  conflict,  disappointment,  success  ;  letting 
us  into  the  secrets  of  a  student's  life,  with  its  vicissi- 
tudes, hopes,  doubts,  fears,  and  sometimes  sadnesses, 
— making  us  also  acquainted  with  its  socialities  of 
mirth  and  jest,  and  pleasant  interchange  of  thought 
and  feeling,  of  joy  and  sorrow. 

Mr.   Dodds'   letters,    even    in    these   early   days, 

indicate  the  same  facility  of  style  which  he  showed 

in    after    years    amid    the    bustle    and    weariness 
46 


Correspondence  after  leaving  St.  Andrews.   47 

of  Paris.  They  are  thoughtful,  yet  full  of  pleasantry ; 
with  nothing  morbid  or  morose  ;  the  overflomngs  of 
an  affectionate  and  happy  spirit ;  always  in  earnest, 
yet  sprightly  and  elastic. 

The  correspondence  of  college  friends  is  full  of 
interest  in  after  days,  even  though  at  the  time  it 
may  have  been  so  little  valued  as  to  be  thrown 
aside.  In  the  present  case  a  great  deal  has  been 
lost ;  for  Mr.  Dodds  wrote  long  letters  to  his  com- 
panions, full  of  the  thoughts  passing  through  his  mind 
at  the  time,  and  of  the  incidents  occurring,  as  well  as 
of  recollections  of  student  life  and  adventure. 

Every  student  has  something  to  tell  of  his  univer- 
sity, his  professors,  his  fellow-students.  In  general, 
these  reminiscences  have  nothing  in  them  of  the 
malicious,  though  often  of  the  ludicrous  and  peculiar. 
A  book  of  such  memories,  written  faithfully  and 
intelligently,  would  be  one  of  surpassing  interest;  and 
the  materials  could  be  easily  gathered.  Each  uni- 
versity has  its  floating  anecdotes  of  former  or  present 
professors ;  many  of  them  worthy  of  being  recorded, 
some  better  forgotten. 

One  professor  (not  of  St.  Andrews)  Mr.  Dodds  used 
to  speak  of  as  manifesting  his  religious  sentiments 
from  the  chair  more  than  once  in  a  peculiar  way. 
"  I  have  never  heard  a  sermon  for  half-an-hour  with- 
out hearing  nonsense."     To  some  of  his  students  this 


48  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

was  rather  annoying ;  to  others  it  was  rather  gratify- 
ing, and  they  used  to  repeat  the  dictum  of  their 
teacher,  sometimes  as  his  experience,  and  sometimes 
as  their  own,  when  they  mshed  to  say  a  specially 
clever  thing  against  the  evangelical  pulpit. 

Dr.  Chalmers,  in  a  very  different  strain,  one  day 
startled  his  students.  He  had  been  dwelling  on  the 
simplicities  that  make  up  the  Gospel  of  Christ :  a 
theme  on  which  he  loved  above  all  things  to  dwell. 
He  "expatiated "  on  the  " good  news "  as  that  which, 
when  simply  believed,  brings  peace  to  the  tossed 
spirit.  He  then  came  to  speak  of  those  who  mystified 
faith,  and  held  it  up  as  one  of  the  most  complex  acts 
of  the  human  mind,  consisting  of  no  small  number  of 
separate  emotions  which  required  to  be  gone  through, 
tested,  and  approved  of  by  the  conscience,  ere  the 
sinner  could  take  rest  or  be  entitled  to  extract  peace 
from  the  thing  believed.  Laying  great  stress,  as  he 
always  did,  on  this  simplicity  of  the  Gospel  and  of 
faith,  he  waxed  vehement  as  he  spoke  of  these 
mystifiers,  and,  starting  from  his  seat,  uttered  the 
memorable  words,  "Gentlemen,  these  men  may  be 
tolerated,  but  they  are  much  to  be  pitied." 

Such  incidents  of  college  life  are  not  soon  forgotten, 
and  impressions  made  rise  up  in  after  years  and 
reproduce  themselves  in  letters  such  as  those  from 
which  I  wish  to  give  a  few  extracts, — characteristic 


Correspondence  after  leaving  St.  Andrews,    49 

of  Mr.  Dodds  and  illustrative  of  his  training  and 
companionships. 

He  accepted  a  tutorship  near  Liverpool,  in  the  family 
of  R.  P.  Wood,  Esq. ;  moving  about  with  his  pupils, 
sometimes  to  Yarrow  and  sometimes  to  Edinburgh. 
Of  that  period  I  shall  only  say  this,  that  it  was  a 
period  of  profitable  quiet,  and  of  great  enjoyment  to 
himself  His  affection  for  and  interest  in  his 
pupils  were  quite  paternal.  His  frequent  visits 
to  his  old  home,  the  manse  of  Lochee,  during 
this  period  of  changes,  showed  where  his  heart  still 
was. 

His  correspondence  at  this  stage  of  his  life  is 
worthy  of  being  preserved ;  and  we  cannot  pass  from 
St.  Andrews  to  Edinburgh  without  taking  note  of 
his  progress,  mental  and  spiritual,  as  exhibited  in 
the  following  extracts. 

The  Rev.  J.  Forgan,  of  Cullen,  thus  writes  to  his 
brother,  Mr.  J.  D.  Dodds  :— 

"  29^/fc  Marcli,  1883.— I  send  you  a  few  of  my  old  friend's 
letters,  or  parts  of  them,  that  I  happen  to  have  preserved.  It 
has  been  a  pleasure  to  me  to  read  them  over  again  ;  and  I  find 
I  can  scarcely  add  anything  to  the  picture  they  disclose  of  my 
friend.  They  are  so  true  and  like  himself  in  every  way,  as 
I  remember  him  in  those  old  college  days.  They  exhibit  his 
genuine  kindness  of  heart,  his  willingness  to  help  and  oblige  a 
friend  in  any  way  that  lay  in  his  power,  and  at  the  same  time 
his  sprightliness  and  cheerfulness  of  disposition.     Honest  kind- 


50  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


liness  lay  at  the  very  foundation  of  his  character ;  and  I  can 
recall  his  bright  smile  and  cheerful  greeting  as  I  used  to  enter 
his  lodgings  ;  and  I  remember  well,  too,  his  hearty  laugh  when 
anything  amusing  occurred  in  our  intercourse.     Euskin  was  his 
favourite  author  in  those  days,  and  he  delighted  to  introduce 
his  friends  to  the  world  of  truth  and  beauty  he  found  in  the 
works  of  that  great  writer.     But  his  range  of  reading  was  wide 
and  varied,  including  philosophy  and  theology,  as  well  as  gene- 
ral literature.      Vinet's  'Outlines,'  and  Duncan's  '  Colloquia,' 
were  favourite  books  with  him.     He  took  good  places  in  his 
classes,  but  college  work  did  not  arouse  the  deepest  energies  of 
his  nature,  and  he  had  no  great  ambition  for  college  honours. 
The  study  of  languages  always  interested  him,  and  in  private  he 
was  breaking  ground  in  the  department  of  philology,  for  which 
he  had  a  special  aptitude.     I  did  not  see  the  goal  whither  his 
linguistic  studies  were  tending  at  the  time,  but  I  have  frequently 
reflected  since  how  Providence  was  even  then  preparing  him  for 
the  work  that  lay  before  him  in  France.     All  along  his  college 
course  he  was  in  fact  pursuing  a  process  of  self-education  in 
philosophy  and  general  literature,  and  especially  in  the  study  of 
languages.     His  spiritual  life  was,  I  think,  to  some  extent  over- 
borne by  the  predominant  intellectualism  of  college  life,  and 
suffered  from  the  want  of  any  helpful  spiritual  influence  in  the 
atmosphere  that  surrounded  him.      He  came  in  contact  also 
with  the  doubt  and  unrest  of  the  present  time  ;  and  although 
his  fundamental  convictions  were  never  shaken,  his  spiritual 
life  declined  in  an  atmosphere  of  doubt.    He  believed  thoroughly 
in  all  lawful  inquiry,  and  was  willing  to  admit  that  doubt 
might  be  at  a  certain  stage  a  natural,  although  by  no  means  a 
necessary  experience,   and  one  from   which  a  person  might 
emerge  with  a  more  assured  faith.     Many  of  his  own  doubts  he 
came,  however,  to  regard  as  sinful  in  their  origin.     At  the  close 
of  his  college  course  there  was,  I  think,  a  requickening  of  his 
spiritual  life.     His  letters  then  assumed  a  deeply  spiritual  tone, 


Correspondence  after  leaving  St,  Andrews.   5 1 

and  dealt  largely  with  experimental  religion.  I  did  not  fully 
sympathise  with  the  views  he  presented,  and,  in  fact,  only  dimly 
descried  their  meaning  ;  but  I  have  often  since  loved  and 
respected  him  for  the  way  he  wrote  to  me  then,  and  the  real 
desire  he  had  for  my  spiritual  good.  He  was  much  pleased 
when  we  afterwards  came  to  see  eye  to  eye  in  regard  to  the 
Gospel  of  Christ,  and  the  way  of  acceptance  through  Him. 
Such  are  some  reminiscences  of  your  brother  as  I  knew  him 
at  St.  Andrews.  It  so  happened  that  our  spheres  of  labour  lay 
far  apart  in  later  life,  so  that  we  did  not  come  much  into  con- 
tact. I  knew,  however,  the  noble  work  he  was  engaged  in. 
His  work  is  now  over,  and  he  is  at  rest.  I  would  wish  to  hear 
the  Master's  voice  saying,  with  ever  deepening  solemnity, 
'  Work  while  it  is  day ;  the  night  cometh,  when  no  man  can 
work.' " 

In  a  subsequent  letter,  dated  5th  April,  1883,  Mr. 

Forgan  again  writes : — 

"  I  am  very  glad  I  happened  to  preserve  the  letters  I  sent, 
and  can  well  believe  that  they  will  be  of  much  interest  to  your 
family.  He  doubtless  wrote  me  others  at  an  earlier  date,  but 
they  have  been  lost.  ...  I  have  thought  that  I  might  in  a  few 
sentences  define  more  exactly  George's  attitude  towards  the 
speculations  and  inquiries  of  the  present  time  during  his  col- 
lege career,  so  far  as  I  can  recall  it  through  the  mists  of  the 
past.  I  should  be  disposed,  perhaps,  to  put  in  the  words  '  to 
some  extent,'  in  the  sentence  of  my  previous  letter  in  which 
I  said  '  that  he  came  in  contact,'  &c.  He  never  paraded  his 
doubts  or  difficulties.  So  far  as  I  can  remember,  he  did  not 
speak  of  them  even  to  his  closest  friends.  I  am  inclined  to 
think  that  his  letters  to  me  at  the  close  of  his  college  course, 
gave  me  a  clearer  disclosure  of  what  had  been  passing  in  his 
mind  than  I  had  received  from  my  intercourse  with  him  as  a 
student ;  and  but  for  these  letters  I  probably  would  not  have 


5  2  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

associated  an  experience  of  doubt  with  my  recollection  of  him. 
I  should  not  have  expected  him  to  go  along  with  me  in  the 
expression  of  doubts  and  objections  to  orthodoxy,  as  a  matter  of 
course.  He  never  gave  himself  out  as  a  '  liberal,'  nor  was  he  in 
any  way  identified  with  '  heterodoxy.'  We  regarded  him  in  the 
main  as  orthodox,  and  imputed  his  more  settled  convictions  and 
more  definite  ecclesiastical  sympathies  to  the  fact  of  his  being 
a  son  of  the  manse.  At  the  same  time,  he  could  not  but  come 
under  the  influence  of  present-day  literature  and  the  atmosphere 
that  surrounded  him  ;  and  the  awakening  of  his  own  mind 
still  more  brought  inquiries  for  him.  His  correspondence  gives 
evidence  that  the  struggle,  though  in  the  main  carried  on  within 
his  own  breast,  must  have  been  a  pretty  severe  one.  So  far  as 
I  remember,  he  was  in  a  state  of  inquiry  during  the  last  years 
of  his  arts  course,  and  perhaps  a  general  expression  of  intel- 
lectual unsettlement  would  have  awakened  some  sympathy  in 
him,  or  at  all  events,  would  not  have  met  with  very  decided 
opposition.  Some  snatches  of  conversation  I  happen  to  recall 
confirm  me  in  this  impression.  During  those  years  he  dealt 
with  religion  mainly  on  its  intellectual  side,  and  our  inter- 
course was  more  of  that  of  the  better  class  of  students, 
moral  and  intellectual ;  with  no  want  of  happy  intercourse, 
but  not  expressly  religious.  In  him,  however,  there  was  more 
of  fixity  of  religious  view,  and  somewhat  more  of  reverence, 
and  something  more  of  strictness  here  and  there,  than  in  some 
others  of  us.  I  think  I  used  playfully  to  call  him  my  ^  News 
of  the  Churches.'  He  cherished  all  along  a  loving  remem- 
brance of  our  Disruption  leaders,  such  as  Chalmers,  and 
Candlish,  and  Guthrie  ;  and  we  used  often  to  speak  about 
them.  He  was  more  en  raijport  also  with  anything  of  interest 
that  was  transpiring  within  the  Free  Church  and  other  Churches 
than  I  was.  I  remember  his  lending  me  Dr.  Dykes'  sermon 
on  the  '  New  Apology,'  as  he  was  ready  to  lend  me  anything 
of  interest  that  came  out." 


Correspondence  after  leaving  St.  Andf^ews.    53 

These  two  extracts  give  some  idea  of  his  mental 
condition  during  these  early  years.  It  may  be  said 
that  at  this  time  his  passion  for  Ruskin  was  all- 
absorbing.  It  seemed  like  a  spell.  Whole  pages 
did  he  copy  out.  "  Ruskin,"  he  says,  "  taught  me  to 
watch  the  skies  and  their  colours.  It  is  such  a  pure 
pleasure  to  watch  the  clouds."  Paintings  were  a 
great  delight  to  him,  especially  landscapes.  Speaking 
of  the  Turner  Collection  in  the  National  Gallery,  he 
writes :  "  What  a  time  I  have  spent  of  delight  and 
interest !  How  grand  a  sky  he  paints  !  scowling 
often,  but  none  the  less  natural.  His  mind  could 
not  have  been  playful  at  all.  Even  his  m3rthical 
subjects  want  the  cheerfulness  which  a  Greek  would 
have  put  into  them." 

No  man,  even  then,  could  appreciate  culture  better 
than  he ;  yet  no  man  in  after  years  saw  more  vividly 
the  dangers  of  that  so-called  school,  in  which  culture 
is  substituted  for  spirituality:  as  if  culture  could 
reach  the  depths  of  a  human  conscience,  or  cultured 
essajrism  supplement  the  theological  failure  of  the 
pulpit.  His  progress  both  in  music  and  paint- 
ing showed  how  dear  true  culture  was  to  him,  and 
yet  how  well  he  could  subordinate  it  to  his  great 
work  as  an  ambassador  for  Christ.  Though  in  later 
and  busier  days  he  ceased  to  paint,  yet  he  never 
regretted   the   time  saved  from  hard   college  work 


54  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

which  he  had  devoted  to  this.  His  musical  tastes 
and  acquirements  did  not  terminate  with  college 
days.  They  were  carried  with  great  effect  and  skill 
into  his  after-work. 

His  love  of  Church  order  was  even  then  beginning 
to  show  itself;  and  his  reverential  bearing  in  the 
house  of  God,  so  genuine  yet  so  unostentatious,  was 
of  itself  a  revelation  of  his  character.  He  was  one  of 
the  few  students  who  regularly  attended  the  weekly 
congregational  prayer  meeting  in  St.  Andrews. 

In  my  own  early  Edinburgh  college  days  there 
was  hardly  such  a  thing  as  a  congregational  prayer- 
meeting  or  weekly  lecture ;  but  we  had  our  students' 
missionary  prayer  meeting  on  the  Saturday  morn- 
ings, and  it  was  well  attended.  Many  of  these 
students  went  forth  to  missionary  work — Wilson, 
Ewart,  Anderson,  Johnstone;  others  remained  at 
home — M'Cheyne,  Miller,  Hewitson;  all  of  them 
greatly  honoured.* 

Yet  he  relished  society, — shone  in  it, — and  was 
always  a  welcome  guest.  Genial  and  polished,  he 
repelled  none,  but  made  himself  most  pleasant  in  his 
different  circles  of  companionship.  Levity  in  hand- 
ling Divine  things  he  shrunk  from ;  equally  so  from 

*  Dr.  Hodge  records  a  remarkable  fact  as  to  Princeton  :  "Almost 
all  the  College  attend  the  prayer  meeting,  which  is  held  every  even- 
ing at  eight  o'clock." — ("  Life,"  p.  34. ) 


Correspondence  after  leaving  St.  A  ndrews.    5  5 

any  affected  gravity.  His  manners  were  simple 
and  natural.  So  was  his  style  both  in  writing 
and  in  speaking.  As  a  classical  scholar,  as  a  lover 
of  poetry  and  art,  he  knew  what  refinement  was,  and 
knew  how  it  should  express  itself.  He  knew  also  how 
little  is  gained  by  parading  aesthetics  in  public.  He 
was  not  to  stand  up,  and  astonish  his  hearers  by 
expounding  "  development"  or  the  "  science "  of 
religion.  Had  such  ambitions  ever  occurred  to 
him  when  a  student,  the  work  in  Paris  among 
the  ouvriers  would  have  swept  them  away.  The 
"  aesthetics"  of  the  Master  sufficed  for  him.  There 
was  enough  of  "  culture "  in  the  discourses  of 
the  Son  of  God  for  the  most  refined  Parisian. 
He  was  to  take  these  for  his  model.  The 
childishness  of  modem  attempts  to  deceive  the 
public  by  means  of  fine  words,  and  to  make  little 
thoughts  seem  great  by  cloaking  them  with  peculiar 
phrases  and  mannerisms,  he  despised.  He  went 
straight  to  the  thing  he  wanted  to  say,  and  he  said  it 
well;  not  waiting  to  consider  whether  it  was  the 
language  of  "culture,"  or  "aesthetics,"  or  "philosophy." 
It  was  no  object  with  him  to  dupe  his  hearers  into 
the  belief  that  he  was  a  grander  man  than  he  really 
was,  or  that  he  was  formed  out  of 

"  The  precious  porcelain  of  human  clay," 
while   the   majority   around   him   were   but   coarse 


56  Me^noir  of  Rev.  G,  T.  Dodds. 

earthenware.  He  assumed  no  airs,  either  at  this 
time  or  afterwards,  nor  sported  any  peculiar  "  style  " 
of  thought  and  language  "  above  the  heads  "  of  the 
people ;  a  "  style "  remarkable  chiefly  for  its  non- 
simplicity  and  want  of  definite  meaning. 

"  Shall  I  enwrap  my  thoughts  in  cloudy  words, 

To  make  men  think  me  greater  than  I  am  ? 
Shall  I  enrobe  myself  in  dreamy  mist 

To  hide  my  conscious  poverty  and  shame  % 
The  eternal  future  of  a  thousand  souls 

Hangs  on  my  words  ;  shall  I  not  then  be  plain  ? 
The  herald  of  God's  love  to  dying  men, 

Shall  I  court  transient  praise  or  earthly  gain  ? 
The  truths  I  teach  are  the  great  truths  of  heaven. 

Shall  I  defile  or  dim  what  shines  so  bright  ? 
Shall  I  proclaim  myself  a  man  of  thought 

By  darkening  that  which  God  has  made  all  light? 
The  wealth  this  Book  contains  is  for  the  poor  ; 

Shall  I  then  hide  this  gold  from  poor  men's  eyes  ? 
Shall  I  bemist  the  untaught  multitude, 

To  win  the  plaudits  of  the  great  and  wise  ?" 

Some  of  his  letters  at  this  time  are  specially 
interesting  as  going  back  in  their  reminiscences 
upon  college  days.  It  would  be  unfair  to  give  these 
in  full.  They  are  the  letters  of  confidential  friend- 
ship, and,  as  such,  contain  allusions  to  individuals 
and  events  which  need  not  go  forth  to  the  public. 
There  is  nothing  in  any  of  them  to  be  ashamed  of; 
nothing    ill-natured    or   unkind;   nothing    of  mere 


Correspondence  after  leaving  St.  Andrews.    5  7 

gossip;  no  retailing  of  idle  incidents  or  malicious 
reports.  They  are  most  pleasant  and  affectionate ; 
but  circumspection  is  required  in  publishing  even  a 
student's  playful  remarks  about  his  professors  or  his 
fellow-students.  Yet  one  almost  regrets  striking  out 
these  references ;  they  are  so  natural  and  happy. 
The  letters  are  racy  and  genial, — perhaps  not 
always  free  from  the  juvenile  tendency  to  sport  a 
little  wit, — but  the  tone  throughout  is  altogether 
pure  and  healthy. 

Thus  he  writes  to  his  friend  Mr.  Forgan.  He 
dates — 

"Bank  House,  Maghull,  Liverpool,  ^ih  February,  1870.* — 
My  Dear  Forgan, — It  is  truly  dreadful  to  think  that  you  and 
I  have  not  seen  each  other  for  more  than  six  months  now,  and 
have  not  written.  So  I  shall  write  now  ;  and  don't  you  let 
a  week  pass  before  you  write  me  a  long  letter.  I  had  a  letter 
begun  to  you  on  the  26  th  of  December,  which  I  never  finished, 
and  I  have  not  written  since,  to  you  or  any  one  hardly,  for  a 
month  past  almost.  I  have  been  sufi'ering  most  keenly  from 
neuralgia  in  my  face,  with  toothache  and  earache  ;  all  which 
have  driven  me  nearly  wild.  I  have  hardly  known  what  it  is 
to  sleep  at  night ;  so  you  may  be  thankful  you  did  not  get  a 
letter  from  me  written  when  in  that  state ;  or  my  condition 
and  disposition  would  both  have  been  reflected  in  a  peculiar 
manner  in  such  a  letter.  Instead  of  my  writing  mildly,  as 
I  am  now  doing,  I  should  have  vented  my  wrath  on  you  ;  for, 
remember,  if  any  of  us  is  in  debt,  it  is  you.     Last  letter  I  wrote, 

*  It  would  appear  that  this  date  ought  to  be  1871  ;  only  on 
the  letter  itself,  in  his  own  hand,  it  is  1870. 


58  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

and  did  not  send,  contained  a  great  deal  of  wondering  as  to  what 

had  become  of  .     Would  you  believe  it,  I  wrote  thr^e, 

letters, — two  long  ones, — to  him,  and  got  no  answer  ?  I  thought 
he  might  be  ill,  or  dead,  perhaps,  or  gone  off  to  join  some 
Pantheist  society  in  Germany,  instead  of  living  a  decent  life  at 
St.  Andrews.  He  had  become  a  mystery.  Finally  I  wrote  a 
postal  card, — I  suppose  you  have  seen  these  said  articles  in 
your  outlandish  place, — a  card  in  French,  to  save  it  from 
prying  eyes,  and  sent  it  off.  Yet  no  letter.  Then  I  got  one 
from  home.  He  had  called  and  told  my  friends  that  he  would 
write  and  send  an  apology.  A  good  while  after  came  a  letter. 
He  has  a  fine  faculty  of  generalising  ;  putting  the  chief  and 
one  trenchant  point  in  a  forcible  manner.  The  passage  is  really 
good,  so  I  will  give  it.  I  had  been  speaking  of  my  student 
sympathies  being  awakened  up  by  being  away  from  college. 
He  says  :  *  Your  reflections  on  your  past  college  life  were 
such  as  were  struggling  in  my  own  bosom  unexpressed.  It 
only  reminds  one  of  the  fleetingness  of  all  earthly  things  ;  a 
common  observation,  but  true  (now  here  is  the  generalisation), 
and  one  which  has  been  forcibly  illustrated  in  my  case  by  the 
flight  of  Forgan  a  hundred  miles  north,  and  you  two  or  three 
hundred  miles  south.'  I  doubt  if  you  or  any  one  else  could 
make  so  fine  a  generalisation  as  that !  I  must  say  I  often  find 
it  coming  up  to  my  mind.  Do  you  know,  I  often  feel  qnzzr 
at  the  sudden  launching  I  have  had  into  another  kind  of  life. 
Did  you  ever  feel  the  truth  of  a  sudden  experience  of  '  reverse 
the  process  '  ?  I  feel  exactly  as  the  words  express  it.  Instead 
of  having  as  much  time  to  study  what  you  like, — Ruskin, 
Spinoza,  e.gr.,  and  philosophy, — why  I  am  compelled  to  look 
after  two  young  fellows,  and  to  train  their  minds  in  Latin, 
Greek,  Mathematics,  and  French.  I  have  no  time  to  indulge 
in  the  strange  themes  I  used  to  elaborate  about  the  end  of 
each  session.  I  have  no  particular  companion, — I  mean  student 
companion.     You  can't  feel  for  me  here,  separate  as  I  am  from 


Correspondence  after  leaving  St,  Andrews.    59 

all  that  is  dear.  I  know  you  will  laugh,  you  stoical  wretch. 
I  can't  help  it.  I  live  on  distant  dearness.  I  treasure  up 
all  memorials  of  all  kinds.     Ah,  well !  the  day  shall  come  when 

;  but  to  return  from  such  details,  this  my  mode  of  life 

is  totally  different ;  I  feel  the  beneficial  effects  already.  It  is 
systematising  my  mind.  You  knew  we  were  both  (pardon  me 
including  you)  rather  given  to  be  fine,  literary,  philosophical 
young  men  ;  to  study  just  what  we  chose,  and  nothing  more  ; 
to  fling  C.'s  Greek  to  the  winds,  and  to  laugh  at  W.  S.  and  his 
discoveries.  Well,  we  have  had  all  that  ;  and  now  we  are  at 
sterner  work.  I  must  say  I  do  not  know  anything  that  is 
doing  me  more  good.  "Whether  it  may  possibly  be  that  my  mind 
is  just  maturing,  I  feel  more  mental  accuracy  in  what  I  do 
than  I  did  before.  For  instance,  you  remember  me  reading  an 
essay  on  '  The  Law  of  Life  in  Eelation  to  Temperance,'  or  some 
fanciful  title  of  that  kind  %  Well,  I  was  reading  it  over  the 
other  day,  and  I  was  really  surprised  and  confounded  to  find 
how  I  had  let  my  mind  wander.  I  had  thought  it  was  practical, 
and  that  I  had  said  practical  things  in  it ;  but  they  were 
struggling  to  get  expression  beneath  the  load  of  mysticism,  and 
fancy,  and  idealism  which  crowded  the  essay.  I  could  not 
write  anything  like  that  now.  The  study  of  Spinoza's  philo- 
sophy did  me  a  world  of  good ;  and  ever  since  I  have  been 
reading  some  clear  philosophy  or  theology  to  keep  it  up. 
Both  of  these  sciences  grow  always  in  interest  to  me.  .  .  .  From 
another  point  of  view,  Ruskin  may  have  done  me  good.  If  one 
is  ever  to  get  imbued  with  goodb  sensuous  literature,  or  poetical 
literature  with  fine  idealistic  thoughts,  don't  you  think  it 
had  better  be  at  college,  or  in  one's  earlier  years  1  Afterwards 
you  have  to  get  disabused  from  that  sort  of  thing.  It  cannot 
guide  you  practically,  however  much  good  it  does  in  helping 
you  to  take  a  fine  and  sensitive  view  of  practical  things.  That 
is  the  one  thing  it  does.  You  look  at  practical  things  in  a  finer 
light  when  you  do  come  to  experience  their  present  and  abiding 


6o  Memoir  of  Rev,  G,  T.  Dodds. 

influence  on  your  life.  Dreamy  day-quietism  won't  do.  I  must 
say  I  rather  feel  for  any  one  who  takes  a  sort  of  wild  fancy  in 
his  college  days  for  some  sort  of  phase  of  literature — for  one 

who  shows  a  hias.     Now,  staid  and  sober  fellows  like and 

never  feel  these  things.     used  to  laugh  at  me  for  my 

devotion  to  Kuskin.  .  .  .  This  is  a  land  of  brick  houses 
and  bramble  lanes.  The  country  is  as  flat  as  a  pancake.  There 
is  faithful  preaching  here  ;  no  ritualistic  nonsense,  and  none  of 
the  bad  effects  of  Broad  Churchism.  I  must  say  that  for  the 
saving  of  the  Church  of  England  God  seems  to  be  raising  up 
many  young  men  who  take  their  place  as  defenders  of  their 
ancient  faith.  If  they  are  not  to  save  the  Church,  they  are, 
I  am  sure,  to  be  witnesses.  .  .  .  The  absolutely  same  service 
of  prayer  every  Sabbath  is  rather  tiresome.  I  never  felt  so 
much  the  rugged  grandeur  of  our  Scotch  metre  psalms  !  No- 
thing here  but  hymns — vapid  and  meaningless.  Somehow  or 
other  one  of  our  paraphrases — '  Come,  let  us  to  the  Lord  our 
God' — was  sung,  being  in  the  hymn-book.  It  was  a  pleasant, 
old,  familiar  sound  in  my  ears — almost  brought  tears.  But  then 
it  also  wonderfully  suited  my  feelings  at  the  time.  I  think  I 
shan't  weary  for  hymns  after  this.  There  is  nothing  like  the 
Psalms  ;  they  go  into  all  human  experience.  Two  things  or 
three  I  like  in  the  English  service — the  people  respond  '  Amen,' 
and  read  the  Psalms  verse  about  with  the  minister.  The  Com- 
mandments are  read  every  Sabbath ;  and  when  a  collection  is 
being  made,  sentences  are  read  from  the  Bible  on  giving.  .  .  . 
I  don't  know  anything  more  contemptible  than  ritualism.  .  .  . 
They  seem  to  think  that  God  is  pleased  when  they  wear 
embroidered  petticoats,  and  wave  incense  before  Him.  Can  you 
imagine  anything  less  earnest  than  serving  God  by  symbols  ? 
I  am  getting  intolerant  against  these  innovations,  which  are 
hankered  after,  not  for  the  glory  of  God,  but  because  they 
delight  the  senses.  For  such  reasons  I  am  inclined  to  resist  the 
use  of  organs.    They  are  not  for  the  spiritual  good  of  the  Church. 


Correspondence  after  leaving  St.  Andrews.    6 1 

"  I  have  been  reading  the  third  and  concluding  volume  of  'God 
in  History,'  by  Bunsen — by  far  the  most  interesting  and  best 
written  of  the  three.  He  goes  over  a  vast  extent  of  ground  ;  and 
secondary  intellects  should  be  thankful  that  the  labours  of  such 
a  man  are  of  practical  use  to  them.  Bunsen  gives  Bossuet  a 
pretty  hard  overhauling,  which  is  rather  necessary  for  the 
admirers  of  that  pre-eminently  silly  churchman  and  philosopher 
— rhetorical  preacher  as  he  may  have  been.  There  is  a  fine 
notice  of  Luther,  of  Calvin,  and  all  the  great  reformers. 
Boehme,  the  mystic,  too,  I  find  reviewed.  .  .  .  Strange  to 
say,  I  am  still  taking  a  particular  interest  in  the  controversy 
about  the  unconditioned.  I  read  Mansel's  '  Bampton  Lectures ' 
with  great  interest.  He  writes,  besides,  a  small  work  called  the 
'  Philosophy  of  the  Conditioned,'  in  reply  to  the  examination 
by  Mill  of  Hamilton's  philosophy.  I  do  not  think  I  ever  read 
a  more  interesting  book  of  its  kind.  It  has  awakened  in  me  a 
great  admiration  for  Sir  W.  Hamilton.  I  do  not  think  there 
ever  was  a  professional  philosopher  did  more  to  show  the  true 
connection  between  Christianity  and  philosophy,  and  how  they 
are  one  ;  and  when  apparently  diflferent,  can  be  reconciled. 
...  I  know  no  one  like  him  for  logically  clenching  all  his 
metaphysical  conclusions.  I  am  afraid  I  agree  almost  wholly 
with  Mansel,  as  I  understand  him,  in  his  view  of  the  impossi- 
bility of  conceiving — making  a  conception  of  the  infinite  or 
unconditioned  ;  though  Stuart  Mill  hammers  away  pretty  hard 
on  him,  and  even  Duncan,  in  his  '  Peripatetica,'  difi'ers  from 
Mansel.  All  that  Mansel  says,  as  far  as  I  can  see,  is  that  we 
cannot  make  the  Infinite  an  ohject  of  conception,  else  we  destroy 
our  personality  and  our  consciousness  in  time.  As  I  am  specu- 
lating boldly,  I  would  like  another  word  for  our  knowledge  of 
the  Infinite  and  of  God,  and  say  that  we  have  an  affinity  to  both, 
inasmuch  as  we  are  recipient  and  percipient  of  God,  being 
made  in  His  image,  and  so  divine — i.e.,  is  recipient,  and  so, 
consequently,    percipient.       I    wonder    if   you    saw    a    long 


62  Memoir  of  Rev,  G,  T.  Dodds. 

letter  that  Carlyle  wrote  to  the  Times  on  the  war.  If  you  have 
not,  I  shall  be  glad  to  send  it  to  you.  It  is  very  interesting. 
The  old  man  is  wakened  up,  and  how  he  speaks  in  it !  I  have 
a  conviction  that  he  is  right.  I  must  say  that  I  can  understand 
a  man  of  his  mind  and  nature  looking  out  on  our  nineteenth 
century,  and  despairing  of  the  world ;  for  though  we  are 
increased  in  our  wealth  and  discoveries,  are  we  progressing 
in  morality  ?  I  often  think  not.  So  I  can  understand  Carlyle 
saying  that  Britain  and  all  Europe  are  going  to  hell.  Fancy  an 
earnest,  upright  man  like  him  living  in  the  midst  of  all  the 
nonsense  in  Church  and  State,  and  not  feeling  dreadfully 
aggrieved  and  disheartened.  If  you  like  I  can  also  send  you  the 
Congregationalist  Mag^a^we,  where  there  is  a  short  notice  of  James 
Russell.  You  knew  him,  and  would  like  to  see  it.  I  felt  and 
still  feel  his  death  much.  Reading  that  short  notice  of  him 
makes  one  feel  how  we  ought  to  work  for  Christ.  When  I 
look  back  on  my  twenty  years,  I  think  how  little  I  have  ever 
done.  I  do  feel  as  a  cumberer  of  the  ground  in  God's  sight, 
though  I  may  not  be  so  in  man's.  My  dear  friend,  do  you  feel 
with  me  the  awfully  solemn  thing  that  life  is,  especially  with  us 
who  intend  to  be  teachers.  Oh,  I  think  if  there  are  any  who 
especially  need  God's  guiding  Spirit  in  everything  that  they  do, 
it  is  we.  I  must  confess,  when  I  despair  of  this  world,  the  only 
refuge  from  dreadful  and  dark  views  of  everything,  is  in  prayer 
and  communion  with  God.  How  little  do  we  avail  ourselves  of 
what  should  be  a  solace,  a  comfort,  a  delight  !  How  often  to 
me  is  prayer  rather  a  duty  to  be  performed  !  How  we  need 
Christ's  spirit  to  make  us  not  only  earnest  men,  but  earnest 
Christians.  The  times  to  me  are  full  of  solemn  events  and 
solemn  futurities.  '  The  blasphemies  of  the  earth  are  sounding 
louder,  and  its  miseries  heaped  heavier  every  day.'  Is  not  this 
too  true  ?  Often  when  wandering  through  the  densely  crowded 
streets  in  Liverpool,  I  study  the  faces  of  the  people,  and  think. 
There  is  an  immortal  soul ;  how  is  it  with  it  ?     I  confess  I  am 


Correspondence  after  leaving  St.  Andrews,    63 

sometimes  made,  in  an  evil  hour,  to  doubt  the  Almighty's  love 

and  goodness.     Such  doubt  is  devil-born.     Faith  is  enabling 

me  to  throw  the  burden  of  my  doubt,  not  my  doubt,  on  Christ. 

'Father,  I  know  that  all  my  life  is  portioned  out  by  Thee.' 

Experience,  long  and  severe,  long  struggle  with  besetting  sins, 

has  taught  me  this, — that  when  I  am  tormented  (and  J  am 

tormented,  for  the  devil  does  not  like  to  leave  hold  of  those  who 

are  escaping),  the  only  way  is  to  pray — pray  that  if  my  doubts 

of  all  kinds  cannot  all  be  cleared  up,  faith  may  enable  me  to  pierce 

such  clouds,  and  rest  on  God's  providence,  and  say,  '  He  doeth 

all  things  well.'     Our  part  is  not  to  listen  any  more  to  doubt ; 

it  is  to  work  against  both  doubt  and  those  evils  which  cause  it. 

Then  I  go  back  to  the  experience  of  great  Christians  who  came 

through  as  great  and  painful  seasons  ;  and  if  they  emerged,  and 

lived  afterwards  in  peace,  and  worked  in  faith  and  love,  why 

not  1 1    But  it  is  a  dreadful  thing  to  be  tormented  with  doubt 

of  any  kind.     How  it  wears  one  out, — body,  soul,  and  spirit  ! 

I  hear  men  praise  the  '  doubting '  school.     Well,  I  must  say 

that  the  worst  thing  is  to  systematise  into  a  school  the  wasting 

principles   of    doubt.     The  picture  which    Bunyan  draws   of 

Doubting  Castle  lets  me  see  that  the  less  we  are  in  it  the  better  ; 

though  when,  by  God's  grace,  we  get  out,  if  we  get  out,  we 

know  by  experience  what  it  is,  and  are  doubly  stronger.     True 

it  is  that  my  doubts  have  been  blessed  to  me.     I  am  so  strong 

in  some  points  now  that  what  man  could  do  would  little  avail  to 

shake  my  faith ;  and  yet  the  old  enemy  knows  the  point  of 

assault,  and  if  I  am  tormented  in  any  way  it  is  by  doubt.     I  am 

often  tempted  to  envy  those  who  are  at  perfect  rest.     Have  you 

never  found  it  so  ?     I  find  prayer  a  great  antidote  to  these 

things,  and  yet  how  little  we  pray,   or  read  and  study  the 

Word  !     I  have  got  much  good  from  reading  Dr.  Marsh's  Life. 

It  is  a  wonderfully  helping  and  satisfying  book.     I  wish  more 

of  us  would  live  and  act  like  him.     I  don't  know  anything  that 

grieves  me  more  just  now  than  the  controversy  going  on  in  our 


64  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

Free  Church.  And  yet  if  there  is  anything  I  am  determined 
upon,  it  is  the  great  fact  of  national  religion.  I  want  a  com- 
prehensive union.  I  don't  want  to  sneer  at  the  Established 
Church  because  she  has  come  to  see  what  patronage  is.  I  can- 
not see  that  a  nation  is  a  Christian  nation,  in  the  full  sense  of 
the  word,  till  she  is  bound  all  together  in  faith  and  polity  ;  till 
there  is  a  State  fostering  the  growth  of  religion,  and  religion,  on 
the  other  hand,  influencing  the  State.  Such  things  may  not 
seem  important,  but  I  have  studied  these  points  independently. 
I  can  say  most  fully  that  I  am  not  a  Free  Churchman  at  all  by 
traditions  I  am  so  by  conviction  ;  and  on  the  question  of  the 
civil  magistrate,  I  hold  most  definite  and  clear  opinions. 
People  say  that  Chalmers'  view  was  too  ideal.  I  don't  think  we 
can  aim  at  a  too  ideal  view.  Dr.  Duncan  says  it  is  a  monstrous 
thing  that  while  the  State  may  give  money  to  any  object  what- 
ever, it  is  not  to  give  money  to  the  cause  of  Christ."*  What  do 
you  think  of  that  ?  I  cannot  join  in  union  with  a  Church  whose 
principles  tend  to  unchristianise  a  State,  by  assuming  a  negative 
position  towards  it,  offering  no  safeguard  for  national  religion 
and  national  Protestantism.  I  have  studied  the  subject  deeply 
and  long,  and  I  am  perfectly  convinced  about  it.  Have  you 
read  Dr.  Kennedy  of  Dingwall's  speech  ?  It  is  about  the  best 
I  have  ever  read.  But  I  am  done  with  this  subject.  Do  write 
me  a  letter  soon, — a  long  letter.  I  have  little  time  here. 
Would  you  like  to  read  my  Spinoza  essay '?  I  could  send  it 
you.  Good-bye,  old  fellow,  for  the  present. — Your  attached 
friend,  George  T.  Dodds." 

A  letter  such  as  the  above  shows  us  the  reader, 
the  student,  the  thinker,  and  the  observer  of  passing 
events.     Perhaps  among  many  students  reading  is 

*  Dr.  Duncan  used  to  quote  the  aphorism  of  one  of  the  Greek 
philosophers,  "  No  government  without  the  gods," 


Correspondence  after  leaving  St.  And7^ews.   65 

less  systematic  than  it  ought  to  be.  Arrangement, 
classification,  method,  are  often  lacking,  and  the 
youthful  mind  is  left  too  much  to  its  own  tastes, 
unhelped  and  un guided.  At  such  a  stage  to  be  let 
loose  over  literature  is  a  great  calamity,  and  one 
which  tells  for  evil  upon  mental  habits;  affecting 
both  intellectual  and  spiritual  health,  interfering  with 
the  formation  of  true  character,  and  impairing  that 
orderliness  and  compactness  of  thinking  which  every 
student  ought  to  cultivate.  Studious  desultoriness  is 
sometimes  as  pernicious  as  idleness.  In  this  respect 
a  great  deal  depends  on  the  professor,  though  more 
upon  the  student.  But  it  is  often  long  before  the 
latter  learns  the  value  of  consecutiveness  and  arrange- 
ment in  reading.  Skipping  from  volume  to  volume, 
or  from  subject  to  subject,  is  the  cause  of  permanent 
instability  of  judgment,  and  onesidedness  in  reasoning. 
This  capriciousness  of  study  during  the  first  four  years 
of  university  work  tells  far  more  upon  character  and 
accomplishments  in  after  life  than  is  generally 
believed.  Regularity  of  lioiirs  enters  largely  into 
mental  as  well  as  moral  training,  and  Mr.  Dodds 
was  too  neglectful  of  this,  both  at  college  and  during 
his  tutorial  life,  to  the  injury  of  his  health,  by  late 
hours  of  study.  He  lacked  somewhat  the  art  of 
packing  up  time.  At  schools  the  pupils  are,  by  the 
superintendence  of  masters,  shut  up  to  regularity. 


66  Me7noir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

At  college  the  pressure  is  withdrawn,  and  each  one 
does  what  is  right  in  his  own  eyes.  This  relief  from 
restraint  operates  seriously  upon  mental  discipline  and 
preparation  for  life,  even  though  no  moral  evil  may 
follow. 

How  far  our  Scotch  professors  enforced  systeniiatic 
study  in  all  their  different  departments  I  do  not 
know.  Mr.  Dodds  always  spoke  in  high  terms  of 
Professor  Flint,  at  that  time  Professor  of  Moral 
Philosophy  in  St.  Andrews,  now  of  Theology  in  Edin- 
burgh, and  seems  tohave  owed  a  great  deal  to  him. 

"  I  think,"  says  his  friend,  "  that  it  was  in  the  summer  after 
his  fourth  session  that  he  wrote  to  me  in  the  serious  strain  of  his 
later  letters.  So  far  as  I  remember,  it  came  upon  me  as  a  some- 
what unexpected  revelation  of  what  was  going  on  in  his  inner 
life.  It  struck  me  as  being  like  one  who  had  been  somewhat 
undecided  becoming  now  very  decided,  to  a  degree  beyond  my 
sympathy  or  full  understanding  at  the  time, — as  the  closing  of 
the  door  to  a  good  many  things  that  had  previously  found 
entrance.  I  have  no  doubt  there  was  a  deepening  and 
re-awakening  of  his  religious  life  at  the  close  of  his  college  course, 
and  probably  earlier.  I  can  well  understand  what  he  told  you 
about  the  glamour  of  culture  and  the  confusion  thence  arising." 

He  had  not  gone  to  St.  Andrews  to  trifle,  and  he 
came  away  more  in  earnest  than  he  went.  He  knew 
what  he  had  gone  for ;  and  of  that  he  had  gotten 
not  a  little  that  would  serve  him  in  coming  years, 
and  help  him  in  prosecuting  his  great  life-work. 
Bright  and  cheery  he  naturally  was; — none  brighter  or 


Correspondence  after  leaving  St.  Andrews.     67 

cheerier  among  his  companions ;  though  sometimes, 
perhaps,  reserved,  and  giving  way  to  depression.  Un- 
ambitious of  distinction,  he  pursued  knowledge  for  its 
own  sake.  But  the  training  of  mind  and  discipline  of 
spirit,  through  which  he  then  passed,  were  followed 
by  lasting  results.  The  educationary  process  went 
on  in  silence ;  but  it  did  its  work  effectually. 

But  here  is  another  letter  which,  like  the  former, 
carries  us  back  to  college  days  and  scenes.  It  is 
written  from  the  old  home  that  he  loved  so  well : — 

"Free  Church  Manse,  Lochee,  31si  Ma\j^  1870. — My 
Dear  Forgax,  I  wonder  what  you  are  doing  ;  whether  you 
are  grinding  Hebrew,  and  have  crammed  all  about  the  Dagesh 
forte  and  Dagesh  lene,  &c.  The  sooner  you  begin  the  better  ; 
which  advice  I  may  take  to  myself,  as  I  am  not  very  far  on 
with  it.  I  am  reading  all  sorts  of  literature  :  .  .  .  transcendental 
philosophy  ;  that  vigorous  thinker,  M'Cosh  ;  that  refined  and 
subtile  analytic,  Vinet  ;  and  last,  not  least,  MorelFs  '  Critical 
Review  of  Philosophy  in  the  Nineteenth  Century,'  which  I  am 
delighted  with, — able,  candid,  grasping,  and  very  clear  thinking 
for  any  one  who  wishes  an  elementary,  but  by  no  means  small 
acquaintance  with  the  philosophy  of  our  day.  I  have  also  been 
reading  Hamilton,  Schlegel,  and  amusing  myself  with  Blair's 
'  Lectures  on  Rhetoric,'  which  are  rather  pleasant.  But  I  object 
to  a  man's  laying  down  such  defined  rules  of  taste, — in  short, 
making  a  grammar  of  all  rhetoric,  and  writing  as  if  (in  the  words 
of  a  writer  whom  you  may  recognise)  the  tongue,  wit,  ancl 
invention  of  the  human  race  were  supposed  to  have  found  their 
utmost  and  most  divine  mission  in  syntax  and  syllogism, 
perspective,  and  the  five  orders.  I  am  deeply  versed,  you  will 
see,  in  all  about  art,  especially  the  Renaissance,  or  artificial  and 


68  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

scientific  period  ;  for,  sad  to  say,  I  have  beside  me  at  this 
present  moment  no  less  than  three  of  my  admired  Ruskin's 
works,  viz.,— Vols.  IV.  and  V.  of '  Modern  Painters,'  and  Vol.  III. 
of  '  Stones  of  Venice.'  But,  after  all,  I  am  not  reading  them  so 
much  as  would  be  expected.  However,  now  and  then  I  refresh 
myself  from  the  drier  studies  by  reading  them.  ...  I  am 
just  beginning  to  feel  strong  now  in  the  least  degree.  For 
weeks  after  I  came  home  I  was  very  unwell, — the  manifest 
result  of  stupid  grinding  at  subjects  which  sap  and  undermine 
all  that  is  natural  and  healthy  and  soul-like  in  a  man. 
A  thousand  woes  on  the  man  who  invented  M.A.  degrees, 
and  as  many  more  on  the  professors  who  confer  them.  I  am 
sure  you  will  agree  with  me.  I  think  we  have  more  serious 
life-work  before  us  than  spending  our  precious  time  in  cramming 
for  degrees.  I  doubt  if  I  shall  trouble  St.  Andrews'  professors 
again.  Adieu!  I  say  to  them,  adieu!  .  .  .  Have  you  seen  a  very 
remarkable  book  called  '  Colloquia  Peripatetica,' — conversations 
with  that  very  extraordinary  man.  Professor  Duncan  of  Edin- 
burgh— Hebrew  professor — one  of  the  most  remarkable  men  of 
his  time,  but  so  eccentric  that  no  one  could  make  anything  of 
him.  The  sayings  are  very  remarkable  ;  the  newspapers  call 
him  a  second  Pascal.  There  is  one  place  in  which  he  says, 
*  Carlyle's  earnestness  touches  me  much.  What  of  hero  worship  \ 
Aye,  he  and  I  have  to  meet  with  a  strange  hero  yet,  Gdj'aros, — 
Death.'  Duncan  was  a  wonderful  man.  He  was  a  sceptic  in  his 
youth,  also  a  great  Spinozist ;  and  is  one  of  the  most  remark- 
able men  converted  from  extreme  scepticism  to  the  clear  know- 
ledge of  Gospel  truth."'^     It  is  a  pity  we  shall  not  be  under  him 

'  *  This  is  hardly  correct  as  to  Dr.  Duncan.  His  very  peculiar 
mind  did  lead  him,  when  a  student,  into  much  that  might  be 
called  sceptical.  But  he  was,  at  the  same  time,  always  shrinking 
from  his  own  conclusions.  He  never  revelled  in  scepticism,  as  some 
do,  nor  reckoned  it  manlier  than  faith  ;  and  he  was  continually 
seekinof  to  extricate  himself  from  the  meshes  of  that  unbelief  into 


Correspondence  after  leaving  St.  Anctrews.    69 

at  the  Divinity  Hall.  I  hope  you  are  getting  on  with  the  work 
for  the  Board.  If  I  may  offer  a  word  of  advice,  it  is  to  set  your- 
self to  work  steadily  at  the  more  difficult  parts  of  it,  and  resolve  to 
pass.  Work  up  the  Hebrew  with  a  strong  resolution.  If  you  don't, 
you  won't  have  a  very  favourable  opportunity  afterwards.  .  .  . 
Now  do  take  an  old  fellow's  advice,  and  don't  be  behind.  Besides 
you  have  not  much  to  do  except  the  Hebrew.  There  is,  I  see, 
some  Scripture  history, — the  Pentateuch.  There  is  a  particularly 
useful  book  which  would  help  you  in  that — Angus'  '  Bible 
Handbook.'  It  epitomises,  and  gives  a  great  deal  of  informa- 
tion; there  is  also  a  book  which  I  find  very  useful,  Vinet's 
'  Outlines  of  Theology.'  That  part  on  the  doctrine  of 
Christianity  on  faith  and  works  is  particularly  able  and  good.t 
I  think  it  is  a  very  necessary  thing  that  when  students  go  up  to 
the  Divinity  Hall  they  should  go  up  with  their  minds  quite 
settled  in  the  prominent  features  of  Christian  doctrine.  I  re- 
member Elder  noticing  this  to  me  one  night.  There  is  nothing 
I  feel  the  truth  of  more  than  this.     If  we  go  up  with  our  minds 

which  his  amazing  power  of  metaphysical  analysis  sometimes  led 
him.  One  day  he  said  to  me,  and  said  it  sorrowfully,  in  one  of  our 
many  walks  :  "  I  was  as  nearly  an  atheist  as  I  believe  it  possible 
for  a  man  to  be  ;"  implying  that  from  his  own  experience  he  was 
inclined  to  conclude  that  there  never  was  such  a  being  as  an  out- 
and-out  atheist.  His  dread  of  his  own  doubtings  was  seen  strikingly 
in  what  he  said  to  a  friend  regarding  the  breaking  of  the  light  : 
'•  When  first  I  saw  there  could  he  a  God,  I  danced  for  joy.'''  It  was 
when  walking  out  alone  that  this  light  broke.  It  was  on  "  the  Brig 
o'  Dee  "  that  he  "  danced  for  joy," 

"t  He  afterwards  was  led  to  modify  his  opinion  of  Vinet  on  one 
important  point, — the  position  which  faith  holds  in  justification.  Vinet, 
in  opposition  to  the  Eeformers  and  subsequent  sound  theologians, 
held  that  faith  justifies  because  it  contains  in  it  the  seed  or  germ  of 
good  works,  not  because  it  connects  us  with  Christ.  Against  this 
subtle  error,  — which  is  only  another  form  of  justification  by  works, 
— Melanchthon  protested.     Mr.  Dodds  came  afterwards  to  see  this. 


70  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

still  in  a  douloting  state  we  shall  do  little ;  our  study  will  be 
comparatively  useless  and  unhenefiting.  I  have  felt  this  so  much 
of  late  that  it  has  been  completely  taking  up  my  thoughts. 
There  is  nothing  I  should  contemplate  now  with  greater  fear 
and  regretful  anticipation  than  a  continued  state  of  doubt  and 
unsettled  mind.  It  is  a  most  unhealthy  condition  ;  just  as  Vinet 
says,  it  is  to  the  mind  what  indolence  is  to  the  body.  Besides, 
though  I  know  there  are  some  men  who  must  doubt,  or  they 
are  never  themselves,  we  too  often  get  into  the  habit  of 
doubting, — of  encouraging  doubts  ;  our  mind,  our  whole  nature 
dwells  in  a  doubting  atmosphere,  and  we  cannot  determine 
anything.  We  are  not  intended  to  doubt  always,  and  we  are 
intended  to  doubt  not  sceptically  or  unbelievingly,  but  sincerely, 
and  most  of  all  prayerfully.  I  can  look  back  with  sorrow  on 
the  time  when  I  was  in  such  a  doubting  spirit  that  had  any 
person  applied  to  me  for  light  on  any  of  these  subjects,  I  posi- 
tively should  have  felt  myself  totally  powerless  to  assist  him. 
I  don't  say  that  I  envy  the  man  who  never  had  his  painful,  inquir- 
ing, sincere,  and  saddening  doubts,  .  .  .  yet  I  have  a  strange 
feeling  that  too  much  doubt  is  very  bad  for  any  man.  Too  much 
of  the  doubting  we  have  comes  from  the  devil.  Doubt  is  'devil- 
born.'  I  know  it,  and  I  feel  it.  There  are  things  which  I  have 
doubted  which,  as  a  creature,  a  created  being,  I  should  never 
have  doubted.  I  am  under  a  moral  government,  and  a  just  and 
loving  God  presides  over  all.  I  know  and  believe  this ;  and 
am  perfectly  certain  that  I  shall  not  fail  to  get  justice  at  the 
hands  of  a  just  and  merciful  God.  It  may  seem  strange  my 
writing  thus,  but  I  have  no  one  to  whom  to  say  all  this  ;  and 
perhaps  it  may  be  beneficial  for  us  both.  I  know  that  for  a 
long  time  past,  though  I  have  neglected  to  do  what  I  ought,  to 
pray  as  I  ought,  to  think  as  I  ought,  God's  hand  has  been 
pursuing  me  and  leading  me  in  a  way  I  knew  not.  I  often  look 
back  with  amazement  at  the  lovingkindnesses  which  have 
really  been  mine,  notwithstanding  all  my  wanderings.     I  am 


Correspondence  after  leaving  St.  Ancirezvs.    71 

sure  that  many  of  mj''  doubts  (I  do  not  say  all)  have  been  offen- 
sive,— insults  to  God, — and  that  makes  all  the  more  wonderful 
the  fatherly  care  and  providence  that  have  been  watching  over 
me.  I  often  feel  now  as  if  God  had  been  leading  me  nearer 
and  nearer,  to  see  what  I  am  and  He  is,  when  I  was  keeping 
afar  oflF.  I  have  never  been  without  convictions  of  a  certain 
kind.  Indeed,  I  can  say  that,  years  ago,  I  thought  I  knew 
what  Christ  was.  It  would  be  a  chequered  religious  experience 
mine  if  it  were  related  ;  but  there  is  one  fact  of  which  I  am 
indubitably  convinced,  and  that  is  God's  care.  During  the  last 
two  or  three  months  of  last  session,  when  I  was  so  ill,  there  was 
nothing  I  felt  so  much  as  God's  kindness  and  love  through 
Christ.  I  had  communion  with  Him.  I  had  a  measure  of 
peace  ;  but  I  can  say,  as  I  dimly  felt  then,  that  it  was  not  a  full 
measure  of  peace.  I  could  not  say  I  was  satisfied  with  myself. 
I  thank  God  I  have  now  a  deeper  view  of  the  sinfulness  of  sin 
and  the  depravity  (obnoxious  as  the  word  may  be)  of  our  nature. 
Had  we  not  been  desperately  wicked  we  should  never  have 
needed  God's  only  Son  to  suffer  crucifixion  for  us.  There  is 
nothing  gives  us  so  deep  a  view  of  ourselves  as  the  habit  of 
prayer  (for  the  promise  of  God  is  not  simply  to  the  act  but  to 
the  habit  of  prayer),  therefore  we  are  told  of  praying  always  and 
praying  without  ceasing.  There  is  nothing  which  I  think  will 
bring  us  to  see  ourselves  sinners  in  need  of  a  Saviour  as 
constant,  unfailing  prayer.  It  is  prayer,  more  than  anything 
else,  that  will  and  can  through  Christ  unveil  the  mysteries 
which  our  natural  man  cannot  and  will  never  comprehend. 
There  is  often  the  objection  urged  against  continuance  in  prayer 
because  of  no  immediate  answer— i.e.,  because  we  have  not  got 
the  needed  grace.  But  why  ?  There  is  grace  in  the  very  act  of 
heartfelt  prayer.  We  are  not  to  expect  an  answer  all  at  once  ; 
and  how  often  have  I  found  my  prayer  answered,  not  in  my 
own  short-sighted  way,  but  in  a  far  greater  and  fuller  enlighten- 
ment.    There  is  no  duty  I  would  inculcate  more  on  men  seek- 


72  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 

ing  for  light  than  the  habit  of  prayer.  I  don't  scorn  an  infidel 
on  his  knees,  beseeching  the  Author  of  his  being  to  show  him 
His  existence.  I  don't  scorn  a  doubter  on  his  knees  seeking 
that  God  would  show  him  the  divinity  and  co-equality  of  Christ 
with  Himself.  In  both  these  cases  there  is  the  intercession  of 
the  Saviour.  Though  the  man  does  not  know  it,  it  takes  place  ; 
and  there  is  assuredly  in  both  cases  the  working  of  the  Spirit. 
If  our  prayers  are  not  answered  at  once,  we  must  wait,  and  wait 
*  in  patience  continually/  and  the  answer  will  come,  and  many 
glorious  sights  will  be  obtained, — such  as  a  view  of  our  own 
guilty  nature  and  the  absolute  necessity  for  a  Eedeemer.  We 
often  puzzle  ourselves  about  the  Atonement.  Well,  I  have  found, — 
and  all  who  are  to  enter  heaven  through  Christ's  merits  must  also 
come  to  find  that  it  is  only  faith  that  will  give  us  peace  ;  it  is  only 
by  prayer  that  our  doubts  will  be  cleared  up.  We  may  get  to 
an  imagined  philosophical  settlement  of  the  question.  This 
will  satisfy  the  intellect ;  but  it  will  have  no  influence  on  the 
soul.  Faith  is  the  harmony  of  the  conscience,  the  reason,  and 
the  heart,  all  combined.  And  then  how  answered  prayer  does 
clear  up  all  difficulties y  leads  us  to  accept  of  the  Bible  as  our 
only  guide  and  rule  ;  and  to  accept  it  with  little  more  of  thdt 
questioning  doubt  which  we  had  so  much  of.  In  salvation  a 
man  must  feel  the  nothingness  of  his  righteousness,  and  see  the 
righteousness  of  God.  There  must  be  a  complete  self-renounce- 
ment and  abdication  of  our  own  merits  to  obtain  peace  through 
the  merits  of  Christ.  Oh,  that  is,  and  always  shall  be,  the  only 
way  for  men  who  feel  themselves  sinners.  We  must  accept 
God's  conditions  of  salvation,  and  see  that  there  is  not  on  earth 
any  other  principle,  any  other  system,  whereby  men  can  be 
saved.  When  I  look  at  it  now,  the  Atonement  appears  to  me 
the  most  wonderful  exhibition  of  God's  love  that  we  can 
imagine.  God  is  love.  He  loved  His  Son,  and  yet  this  Son 
He  gave  up  for  our  salvation.  And  if  people  begin  to  talk  of  a 
partial  atonement,  and  say  that  this  man  cannot  be  saved, 


Correspondence  after  leaving  St.  Andrews.    73 

because  he  is  not  elected,  I  answer,  you  have  nothing  what- 
ever to  do  with  the  doctrine  of  election.  You  are  not  to  settle 
whether  you  are  elected  or  not ;  you  are  invited  to  come, 
invited  freely.  .  .  .  Attending  on  every  prominent  doctrine  of 
Christianity,  you  will  find  there  is  a  mystery.  But  shining  and 
burning  truths  lie  beside  the  darkest  mysteries.  As  Dr. 
Duncan  says,  '  The  Cathedral  has  its  crypts,  and  cannot  be  with- 
out them.'  There  is  always  sounding  in  my  ears  that  grand  old 
truth  of  Paul's,  that  we  see  in  part,  and  know  in  part.  Our 
present  concern  is  to  obtain  pardon  and  peace,  and  God  is  a 
liar  if  every  one  is  not  invited.  .  .  .  There  is  also  this  one 
indubitable  fact,  which  every  one  who  has  prayed  can  testify 
to,  and  that  is,  that  we  are  conscious  of  an  answer  from  God  to 
our  prayers.  No  man  ever  prayed  believingly,  and  from  his 
heart,  but  received  an  answer  (perhaps  not  a  direct  one)  to 
his  prayer  ;  and  we  know  and  believe  that  any  one  who  comes 
to  the  mercy-seat  will  ohtam  an  answer.  .  .  .  There  is  nothing 
the  world  needs  so  much  as  the  labour  of  praying  ministers. 
There  is  no  new  Gospel  obtainable.  If  a  man  is  an  earnest 
Christian  (we  talk  too  much  of  earnest  men),  I  say  an  earnest 
Christian,  and  speaks  from  the  heart  the  truths  of  the  Gospel 
to  sinners,  then  we  shall  need  no  gospel  of  reason,  which  I  hear 
talked  about.  It  is  true  our  Gospel  is  a  reasonable  Gospel,  but  it 
is  also  a  faithful  Gospel.  I  often  think  of  the  noise  that  some 
men  make  now-a-days  about  the  want  of  something  new,  and 
preaching  to  the  age.  But  many  of  these  men  have  itching 
ears,  and  their  hearts  cannot  be  touched.  I  have  made  up  my 
mind  to  walk  about  with  my  own  eyes  open  as  to  what  these 
men  do  for  Christ,  and  shut  my  ears  to  a  great  deal  of  their 
talk.  I  know  too  well  that  there  are  ministers  not  a  few  who 
do  not  preach  as  they  ought.  They  spoil  the  old  story  which  is 
ever  new.  They  are  denounced  by  men  like  Gilfillan  ;  but  the 
question  is.  Is  this  or  that  denouncer  advancing  Christ's  work — 
doing  any  good  for  Christ's  cause  1     Are  they  prayerfully  acting 


74  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

thus  ?  are  they  asking  Christ  to  give  them  strength  to  denounce 
the  orthodox  ?  It  is  curious  to  see  how  these  very  liberal  men 
are  so  willing  to  hide  the  faults  and  errors  of  infidels  and  men 
who  had  no  religion  at  all.  Let  us  take  a  lesson,  and  hide  the 
faults  of  those  who  err  on  the  right  side.  Every  man's  duty  is 
to  ask  counsel  at  the  throne  of  grace,  then  to  act  and  speak. 
However  sincere  a  man  may  be,  all  is  unavailing  without 
prayer.  We  must  regulate  ourselves  by  a  rule  above  us,  and 
if  such  a  man  looks  more  clearly  at  his  ^  sincere '  convictions, 
he  will  find  that  his  own  convictions  are  his  own  self-will.  We 
must  stand  up  for  '  Christ  or  no  Christ,'  in  the  present  day  ;  be 
on  one  side  or  another.  Our  duty  is  to  preach  Christ  to  men,  and 
not  to  spend  our  time  in  finding  fault  with  weak  brothers.  .  .  . 
We  shall  be  of  little  use  in  the  world  if  we  are  in  a  state  of 
uncertainty.  We  can  do  nothing  for  Christ,  unless  we  are 
totally  for  Christ.  And  who  has  not  felt  it?  I  have.  The 
Christian  walk  is  very  difficult,  but  it  is  attainable.  ...  It 
will  be  well  for  us  to  walk  life  together  ;  but  better,  oh,  better 
and  more  blessed  far  to  look  forward  to  the  time  when  this  life 
shall  end,  and  together  we  shall  begin  another  life,  an  eternal 
one,  in  the  presence  of  Christ,  and  rejoicing  in  His  merits. 
That  this  may  be  is  the  earnest  and  often-repeated  prayer  of 
your  very  attached  friend,  George  T.  Dodds." 

His  Christian  character  we  see  thus  beginning  to 
unfold  itself.  He  is  speaking  out  to  his  fellow- 
students.  He  lets  them  know  what  he  is,  what 
he  means  to  be,  and  what  he  wishes  them  to  be. 
The  well-known  shyness  of  students  in  speaking  to 
each  other  of  religious  experience  is  giving  way. 
It  is  not  philosophy  that  is  uppermost  in  his  mind ; 
nor  even  his  beloved  philology ;  nor  is  it  theology. 


Correspondence  after  leavmg  St.  Andrews.    75 

It  is  the  inner  experience  of  the  soul  that  has  at 
length  realised  the  difiference  between  light  and  dark- 
ness ;  between  groping  after  a  divine  abstraction  and 
enjoying  conscious  relationship  to  the  living  God. 

I  do  not  know  how  far  he  was  successful  in  deal- 
ing with  his  fellow- students  at  this  time ;  but  I 
know  that  in  after  years,  by  means  of  personal 
intercourse  and  faithful  dealing,  he  did  signally  suc- 
ceed in  turning  some  from  the  broad  into  the  narrow 
way.  His  influence  in  Paris  among  many  older  than 
himself  was  very  remarkable.  And  it  was  the  firm 
hold  which  he  himself  had  of  the  truth  which 
enabled  him,  in  his  own  clear  direct  way,  to  bring  it 
home  to  others,  as  well  as  to  dispel  the  mists  with 
which  he  found  some  enveloped.  His  letters  show 
this ;  yet  they  are  not  what  we  should  call  out-and- 
out  religious  letters,  but  letters  in  which  his  own 
religious  feelings  and  opinions  come  out  in  inter- 
mixture with  all  the  occurrences  of  the  day.  In 
these  everything  is  natural ;  and  so  more  effective. 

Here  is  another,  dated  "  St.  Mary's  Loch,  Tibbie 
Shields',  August,  Friday,  12th,  1870."  It  is  addressed 
to  Mr.  Forgan  : — 

"  I  am  staying  a  few  nights  — in  fact  this  is  the  last — at  that 
famous  hostelry,  Tibbie  Shields',  whom  everybody  knows.  She 
can  boast  of  acquaintance  with  more  great  men  than  either  you 
or  I  can  ever  venture  to  expect — Wilson,  Wordsworth,    Sir 


76  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds, 

Walter  Scott,  Sir  D.  Brewster,  and  others  innumerable.  She 
is  a  fine  old  Scotchwoman,  a  real  type  of  the  common  speci- 
mens of  last  century,  with  all  the  distinguishing  points  of  a 
remarkable  person.  She  has  books  presented  to  her,  some  of 
which  are  lying  at  the  head  of  my  bed,  from  all  kinds  of 
people.  Looking  over  these,  I  found  such  a  mixture — Owen  on 
'  Indwelling  Sin,'  '  Old  Mortality,'  a  pack  of  cards,  '  Addresses ' 
by  Brownlow  North,  Winslow's  '  Sympathy  of  Christ ' ; — 
Carlyle's  '  French  Revolution,'  was  evidently  well  read.  .  .  . 
My  bedroom  is  oflF  the  kitchen,  behind  the  kitchen  fire  ;  my 
door  leads  into  the  kitchen  ;  and  you  may  imagine  that  in  this 
hot  weather  I  am  not  very  cold  ;  and  in  this  bedroom  I  hear  all 
that  goes  on.  Tibbie  is  very  quiet  just  now  ;  I  think  is  asleep. 
Her  son,  Willie  Richardson  (her  married  name  is  Richardson),  is 
discussing  with  some  English  fellow  the  comparative  merits  of 
Prussians  and  French,  holding  his  own  most  tenaciously.  So 
you  see  I  am  having  experience  of  a  very  varied  kind.  To-day 
begins  the  shooting,  and  the  unlucky  grouse  are  being  startled 
in  their  peaceful  solitudes  by  an  intruding  set  of  human 
(humane  ?)  beings.  Whir,  whir,  and  a  covey  rises  of  splendid 
birds.  The  old  cock  leads  the  way  with  his  peculiar  cry, 
Kok,  kok,  koka  (only  /ic  cries  out),  shouting  defiance,  for  he  is 
cunning.  But  craclz  the  rifle  goes,  and  generally  the  game 
basket  gets  a  couple  of  beautiful  grouse  or  grey  game.  I  dare- 
say it  is  pleasant  to  some,  but  I  don't  care  for  it.  I  love  to 
wander  among  the  hills,  not  to  kill  grouse,  but  to  botanise  ; 
admire  the  beauty  and  grandeur  all  around  ;  to  sketch,  at  which 
I  am  becoming  quite  a  proficient ;  and  generally  to  meditate 
for  a  while  on  all  subjects.  There  is  no  place  that  I  know 
which  has  more  of  beauty, — greener  hills,  with  a  pastoral  glow 
of  light  and  peace, — finer  sunsets.  I  think  Wordsworth  says, 
*  The  peacefulness  of  heaven  broods  on  the  sea.'  Some  fool 
changed  on  into  o\r.  What  a  change  !  I  have  realised  the 
beauty  of  it,— the  expressiveness  and  truthfulness  of  the  '  on,' 


Correspondence  after  leaving  St.  Andrews.    7  7 

over  and  over  again.  I  don't  think  I  am  inclining  at  all  to 
mysticism  when  I  say  that  the  word  '  on'  expresses  the  spiritual 
presence  of  heaven, — of  God's  power  and  love,  which  I  can  see 
so  fully  in  all  around.  I  remember  standing  one  night  at  my 
window  and  looking  across  the  lake  to  where  Yarrow, — that 
word  of  sorrow, — enters.  The  patriarch's  moon,  '  walking  in 
brightness'  (Job  xxxi.  26),  was  actually  before  me, — the  patri- 
arch's moon  really  '  walking'  among  the  clouds,  and  the  silver 
shadows  cast  on  the  loch  came  to  the  very  edge  of  it,  just 
where  I  stood.  There  was  something  inexpressibly  beautiful 
in  the  sight." 

Tweston,  the  German  professor  (fifty  years  ago), 
went  to  the  theatre  from  a  sense  of  duty,  to  "  culti- 
vate his  taste"!  Mr.  Dodds  preferred  the  mount- 
ains and  lakes.  They  were  realities,  and  he  found 
them  best  fitted  to  cultivate  his  taste. 

"  Sometimes  in  the  morning  the  water  was  perfectly  still, 
and  the  hills  reflected  so  perfectly  in  it  that  you  could  see  the 
sheep  grazing.  I  never  tire  looking  at  the  hills.  How  they 
gradually  come  out  in  the  morning  ;  colour  unceasingly  as 
changefully  under  the  sun  ;  rest  in  the  twilight ;  hold  the  stray 
clouds  in  their  courses  as  by  a  spell ;  and  melt  away  later  on  in 
the  most  perfect  and  unbroken  sympathy,  till  the  remotest 
seem  to  colour  with  the  lightest  shades  of  the  most  delicate 
blue,  purple,  and  tender  green,  and  blend  with  the  sky  !  And 
then  there  are  burns — not  plain  and  unspirited  lowland  rivu- 
lets, but  brooks  with  their  cold  ice-water  sources,  tumbling  over 
rocks,  running  on  golden  gravel ;  then  confined  to  a  narrow 
miniature  gorge  ;  then  becoming  larger  and  forming  some  of 
the  finest  and  most  picturesque  pools.  Large  rocky  boulders 
soften  their  severity  and  let  the  water  flow  over  them.  Ferns 
of  the  purest  green  fringe  the  banks,  and  purple  heather,  with 


yS  Memoir  of  Rev.  G,  T.  Dodds. 

many  other  plants.  The  rocks  become  lichen-covered,  grass- 
overgrown.  Your  eye  can  rest  satisfied  with  this  abundant 
gratification,  while  the  ear  delights  in  the  never-ceasing  cas- 
cade of  music  that  pours  over  the  rock.  I  never  can  forget  a 
favourite  verse — '  His  tender  mercies  are  over  (or  on)  all  His 
works.'  '  How  manifold  are  Thy  works  ;  in  wisdom  hast  Thou 
made  them  all.' " 

His  love  of  wild  scenery, — sea  and  sky,  streanis  and 
mountains, — comes  out  romantically  in  these  letters. 
The  painter,  the  poet,  and  the  musician  get  vent 
to  themselves  amid  these  splendid  solitudes.  This 
passion  for  the  beautiful  grew  upon  him,  even  after 
he  had  ceased  to  sketch  ;  and  in  his  visit  to  the  High 
Alps,  made  after  he  was  settled  in  Paris,  we  find  it 
in  his  descriptions  of  nature.  Above  all,  it  was  the 
sky  that  he  admired  most,  with  its  dissolving  views 
and  changing  colours.  He  had  a  quick  and  discerning 
eye  for  colours. 

Amid  these  pastoral  solitudes,  I  doubt  not,  he 
looked  into  his  own  future, — meditating  on  mission- 
ary life  in  some  land  of  the  far  East  or  South.  But 
I  do  not  suppose  that  Paris  ever  then  entered  into 
his  plans.  He  little  thought  that  his  work  was  to 
shut  him  up  within  the  walls  of  a  crowded  city,  far 
from  the  green  valleys  and  clear  streams  that  he 
loved  so  well ;  and  that  at  last,  when  he  went  out  of 
the  busy  streets  into  the  solitude  of  Buisson,  it  was 
only  to  die. 


Correspondence  after  leaving  St.  Andrews.    79 

The  next  letter  breathes  the  same  spirit,  and  shows 
the  same  man.  It  is  written  a  month  later  (10th 
September),  and  is  dated  from  Lochee  : — 

"  I  left  St.  Mary's  on  the  13th  of  August ;  drove  by  omnibus 
to  Selkirk — such  a  splendid  drive  !  You  scarcely  miss  sight  of 
the  Yarrow  all  the  way.  And  the  hills — now  bare,  but  purpled 
with  heather,  then  deeply  wooded — extend  almost  the  whole 
way.  There  are  so  many  associations  connected  with  it  that 
the  drive  is  one  of  the  finest  you  could  have.  I  saw  what 
remains  of  the  '  dowie  dens  of  Yarrow.'  But  they  don't  look 
so  very  poetic  now.  .  .  .  Stayed  in  Edinburgh  for  a  few  days  ; 
then  here  (Lochee)  ;  then  went  to  stay  with  some  friends  at 
Kenmore.  ...  I  had  never  been  north  of  Perth  before.  The 
scenery  all  the  way  above  Perth  is  grand, — the  Tay  watering 
the  valley  all  the  way  down,  and  the  hills  mostly  wooded  ;  not 
as  at  St.  Mary's,  with  Scotch  pine.  Fir  and  larch  form  a  very 
fine  combination  of  colour ;  and  the  fields  in  the  valley  are 
studded  with  beeches, — of  all  trees,  the  most  pleasing  in  the 
level  part  of  landscape.  We  went  to  Loch  Eannoch  one  day, — 
such  an  unequalled  drive  !  I  cannot  forget  the  perfect  purple 
and  yellow  sunlight  on  the  hills,  nor  the  way  the  grim  and  grey 
Schiehallion  rose  over  all  the  rest  against  the  sky,  with  grey- 
green  birches  near  its  foot,  reminding  me  of  the  old  trees  you 
see  in  stucco  paintings.  I  have  not  seen  many  Highland  lochs, 
but  Loch  Eannoch  was  silent,  solemn,  grand.  The  great 
extent  of  its  water  and  the  partial  bleakness  of  its  scenery  made 
it  remarkable.  I  stayed  and  painted  it  while  the  rest  of  the 
party  wandered  ofi".  Then  we  had  dinner  at  the  inn.  Strange 
experiences  you  have  in  travelling  !  I  looked  through  th^ 
tourists'  book.  Every  fool  scribbles  in  it, — writes  his  name, 
exaggerates  the  number  of  fish  he  has  caught ;  so  that  if  all  the 
piscatory  statistics  w^ere  true,  the  loch  would  be  pretty  empty 


8o  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds. 

just  now,  whereas  it  seems  to  get  fuller  every  year.  I  wonder 
how  many  people  there  are  who  travel  just  for  the  sake  of  say- 
ing they  have  been  at  such  a  place  ;  not  to  admire  it,  but  just 
to  say  they  have  been  there.  .  .  .  Then  the  Pass  of  Glenlyon — 
which  the  hills  seem  to  shut  in,  and  over  which  they  keep 
watch  in  terrible  silence  and  jealousy,  as  if  no  one  might  dare 
violate  the  grandeur  of  those  Highland  hills.  I  was  silent  when 
I  saw  that  Pass  of  Glenlyon  :  its  awful  grandeur,  its  impressive 
gathering  round  it  at  one  single  point  of  so  many  hills  ;  rough 
here  with  loose  boulders,  green  there  with  fir-trees,  that  fretted 
the  sky  with  their  dark,  needle-like  points.  I  drank  in  with 
purest  pleasure  the  joy  that  came  over  me  when  I  saw  this 
Pass.  What  it  must  be  in  a  clear  moonlight  night,  just  darkly 
visible,  I  leave  you  as  well  as  myself  to  imagine.  Would  that 
I  could  have  seen  it  at  such  a  time  !  I  saw,  however,  Ben 
Lawers  rising  from  the  shore  of  Loch  Tay,  the  hills  closing 
round  the  loch  to  a  point.  You  could  almost  feel  as  well  as  see 
the  peacefulness  of  the  moonlight  "  brooding  on  "  the  hills  and 
loch.  Every  part  of  the  scene  had  lost  the  glare  imparted  by 
the  noonday  sun,  and  the  colours  were  toned  down  into  quiet- 
ness. Most  wonderful  of  all,  a  pure  fleecy  cloud,  apart  from  all 
the  rest,  descended  the  hill,  and  stretched  itself  out  along  the 
middle,  while  the  clouds  above  wore  gradations  of  colour,  dark 
and  light.  The  water  had  that  sombre  gleam,  with  moonlight 
glints  of  light,  which  forms  its  finest  appearance.  I  was  then  on 
the  brow  of  a  hill,  and  wandered  about  a  long  time,  looking  at 
and  drinking  in  the  beauty.  Such  sights  always  do  me  good. 
You  feel  the  purity  of  God's  creation,  the  impurity,  the  vileness, 
— let  men  say  what  they  will, — of  your  own  heart ;  how  we, 
who  are  able  to  become,  through  His  grace,  the  temple  of  God, 
pollute  OUT  sanctuary,  and  the  purity  of  nature  also.  ...  I 
have  got  a  piece  of  news  for  you,  which  will  but  illustrate  how 
I  sometimes  follow  your  bad  example.  I  can  fancy  you  start 
at  the  intelligence.     The  Woods  have  asked  me  to  stay  till 


Coi^respondence  after  leaving  St.  Andreivs.    8  r 

winter  with  them.  ...  I  think  it  will  be  greatly  for  my  good. 
I  shall  run  no  danger  of  getting  again  into  such  bad  health  as  I 
was  in  when  I  left  College,  and  I  shall  have  time  to  mature  my 
mind  before  entering  the  Hall.  Unfortunately  at  the  time, 
fortunately  now,  I  was  quite  laid  up  when  the  Board  examina- 
tion took  place,  and  had  to  get  a  medical  certificate  to  qualify 
me  for  an  examination  in  November.  I'm  thankful  I  sha'n't 
need  it  now.  I  had  been  ill  with  a  horrid  kind  of  chill  fever, 
contracted  in  an  expedition  to  the  hills,  when  caught  in  a  thun- 
derstorm. ...  I  have  been  reading  Carlyle's  '  Cromwell.'  It 
is  a  grand  and  noble  book.  I  shed  tears,  I  am  not  ashamed  to 
say,  when  I  came  to  the  account  of  his  death.  '  So  dies  a  hero,' 
says  Schiller,  May  Carlyle  die  a  like  death  !  .  .  .  I  was  bother- 
ing my  head  lately  about  a  metaphysical  question  :  Does  every 
cognition  involve  a  judgment  ?  You  will  be  none  the  wiser 
for  answering  it.  I  heard,  a  good  while  ago,  Mr.  Wilson,  of 
Barclay  Church,  Edinburgh,  preach  a  mission  sermon  on  the 
leaven — '  Until  the  whole  was  leavened.'  The  earnestness, 
power,  and  vigour  of  thought  were  very  remarkable.  I  wish 
you  could  have  heard  it.     It  did  me  a  great  deal  of  good." 

Again  he  writes  to  Mr.  Forgan,  on  20th  July,  1871, 

from  St.  Mary's,  Yarrow.     An  extract  will  suffice  :— 

"  The  Edinburgh  people,  like  Vandals,  wished  to  build  a  dam 
across  the  Yarrow, — that  sacred,  classic  Yarrow  !  I  declare  the 
materialism  of  our  age  is  alarming !  They  wanted  to  cut  a 
sluice  between  St.  Mary's  Loch  and  the  Loch  of  the  Lowes.  .  .  . 
Edinburgh  bailies  came  out  to  investigate,  and  generally  carried 
away  pitchers  of  water  slung  under  their  conveyances.  I  could 
have  soused  them  heads  and  heels  in  water  !  I'm  thankful  they 
have  not  got  their  Water  Bill  carried.  Let  them  go  where  they 
like,  if  they  will  stay  away  from  this  place.  It  is  too  bad,  after 
they  have  disturbed  all  the  old  and  revered  places  in  Scotland, 
they  should  attempt  St.  Mary's  !   Do  you  remember  that  passage 

G 


8  2  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds. 


in  '  Colloquia  Peripatetica ' :  '  We  are  drifting — drifting  into  an 
awfully  materialistic  age.  They  will  be  tunnelling  Olympus, 
and  watering  the  engines  at  Hippocrene.'  "^  I  wonder  that  any 
one  with  any  classical  reverence  could  think  of  tunnelling 
Olympus,  and  just  equally  so  of  disturbing  Yarrow  and  St.  Mary's 
Loch.  ...  If  you  go  to  the  hall  this  year  you  will  be  a  year 
before  me,  for  I  am  to  be  another  year  at  MaghuU.  You  see  I 
enjoy  my  teaching  immensely.  It  does  me  much  good  ;  develops 
and  benefits  my  mind,  and  gives  me  such  an  insight  into  many 
things,  human  nature  included,  that  as  I  am  not  old  I  do  not 
grudge  another  year.  I  was  twenty-one  in  June,  and  so  shall 
be  twenty-two  next  June,  so  that  I  shall  be  twenty-six  years  old 
when  I  am  finished  with  the  Hall.  ...  I  am  always  thinking 
of  subjects  connected  with  my  future  studies, — generally  those 
questions  which  arise  at  the  conjunction  of  philosophy  and 
theology.  I  have  been  reading  Newman's  '  Grammar  of  Assent,' 
— a  very  remarkable  book.  ...  Do  you  remember  once  saying 
that  at  last  one  came  to  thiiik  in  philosophy  independently  of  all 
systems, — that  one  formed  a  system  for  themselves.  I  have 
found  it  true.  I  am  independent  of  all  systems.  I  find  myself 
during  my  wanderings  here  indulging  in  speculations  of  the  most 
fantastic  kind.  I  have  got  a  theory  of  nescience  or  ignorance 
which  I  should  like  to  impart  to  you,  if  I  could  have  a  talk  with 

*  Dr.  Duncan's  forebodings  remind  one  of  the  warning  given  many 
years  before  by  the  German  Von  Gerlach  :  "  Be  on  your  guard 
against  materialistic  politics  and  the  false  liberalism  of  the  infidel 
French  and  English  of  the  last  century  :  Voltaire,  Gibbon,  Rousseau, 
&c.  &c.  Compare  not  only  your  doctrines,  but  also  your  feelings, 
with  those  of  the  blessed  Lord,  of  St.  Paul,  and  of  the  saints  of 
former  times,  on  the  one  hand,  and  with  those  of  the  liberals  of  our 
own  time  on  the  other  ;  but  compare  thoroughly  and  candidly,  with- 
out prejudice,  as  before  the  all-seeing  eye  of  the  Holy  One,  and 
shudder  if  you  disagree  with  the  former  and  agree  with  the  latter. 
Alas  !  that  Satan  should  always  prefer  to  build  chapels  close  beside 
the  churches  of  God  !  " 


Correspondence  after  leaving  St,  Andrews.   ^2> 

you.  I  have  so  much  to  speak  about.  If  we  do  not  see  each 
other,  I  may  manage  to  put  some  of  my  thoughts  on  paper 
about  all  I  have  to  say.  It  is  a  grand  thing  to  look  forward  to 
opening  life, — to  feel  that  in  the  future  your  work  lies  ;  to 
feel  that  you  are  to  go  into  it  with  all  the  enthusiasm  you 
are  capable  of.  It  is  true  that  the  opening  of  life  appears 
very  fine  to  a  young  man  ;  but  I  would  rather  not  be  one 
of  those  creatures  who,  of  lymphatic  nature,  go  into  their 
work,  such  as  it  is,  without  any  corresponding  change  in  their 
character,  as  it  issues  from  a  state  of  comparative  repose,  medi- 
tation, and  reflection,  to  one  of  action  and  trial  of  capabilities. 
I  feel  that  I  have  got  a  work  to  do,  and  I  pity  any  one  who  does 
not  feel  the  same.  The  great  fault  of  many  at  present  is  that 
they  think  the  world  is  moving  on  smoothly  and  pleasantly  to 
some  fine  goal  of  the  perfection  of  humanity.  Whereas,  I  would 
say,  '  The  blasphemies  of  the  earth  are  sounding  louder,  and  its 
miseries  are  heaped  heavier  every  day.'  We  are  not  in  a  state 
of  perfection,  or  even  tending  towards  it.  We  are  like  the 
nations  of  Greece  and  Eome,  gliding  into  the  state  of  life  which 
produces  human  beings,  who  have  all  qualities  but  those  of  a 
man.  We  are  getting  corrupted  under  a  delicate,  effeminate, 
and  silly  civilisation.  There  is  a  want  of  open  truth  and  cour- 
age, of  moral  and  Christian  earnestness.  There  is  a  horrid 
amount  of  diplomacy,  diplomacy  and  nothing  else,  in  our  char- 
acter and  conduct  as  a  nation.  I  wish  we  had  some  great  man 
like  Oliver  Cromwell.  I  even  wish  we  had  Bismarck,  who  would 
use  a  strong  will.  In  our  public  life  there  is  a  sort  of  delicate 
consideration  for  all  aberrations  and  sins,  which  being  no  longer 
mere  toleration  of  bad  is  becoming  direct  encouragement  of  it. 
The  eruption  of  the  volcano  must  come  some  day.  We  are  living 
in  the  crater.  ...  I  am  much  struck  with  the  view  which 
Froude  takes  of  our  present  social  life.  He  scorns  the  idea  that 
all  our  material  prosperity,  and  our  advances  in  discovery,  are 
encouraging.     He  desires  a  return  to  the  pristine  simplicity  of 


84  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

the  Keformation.  I  have  heard  it  said  by  some  one  that  people 
speak  as  if  God  had  settled  all  things  at  the  Reformation  ;  I  feel 
inclined  to  say  that  He  settled  many  things,  but  that  we  do  not 
at  all  recognise  the  yiinU,  to  use  the  expression,  which  He  gave 
us  for  the  formation  of  a  basis  of  society  in  which  religious  and 
secular  matters  would  not  come  into  collison,  but  work  hand  in 
hand.  When  I  read  the  history  of  Alfred  the  Great  and  his 
times,  I  see  he  was  far  in  advance  of  us  in  many  things,  and  had 
more  enlarged  views  on  many  points.  His  rule  was  one  of  Truth 
beloved  and  encouraged,  religion  fostered.  Our  time  is  one  in 
which  while  Truth  is  confessed  and  believed  in,  it  is  not  acted 
on  ;  and  fidsehood  of  every  kind  is  admired,  encouraged,  and 
employed — expediency  ruling  all  the  aflfairs  of  our  nation.  I 
often  try  if  I  can  perceive  a  single  act  of  public  character  or  wide 
influence  done  in  the  direct  interest  of  truth  or  to  the  glory  of 
God.  As  Ruskin  says,  the  present  generation  believes  in  a  God, 
but  it  does  not  believe  that  He  can  rule, — Christianity  confessed, 
and  Paganism  beloved.  I  am  glad  to  get  some  of  my  ideas  put 
on  paper.  They  have  been  in  my  head  too  long.  I  don't  think 
I  am  taking  an  extreme  view  of  our  state.  I  wonder  what  pro- 
gress your  mind  is  making  in  religious  questions.  These  never 
fail  in  their  interest  to  me.  They  are  tenfold  more  important. 
.  .  .  Did  that  verse  ever  strike  you :  '  Ye  are  com'plde  in  Him.' 
The  whole  man  is  out  of  agreement  with  himself,  and  there  is  a 
jar  in  his  constitution.  But  the  Gospel  puts  all  things  right. 
What  a  hyperbole  '  Ye  are  complete  in  Him '  would  be  if  said 
of  a  man  and  his  opinions  !  Christ  and  His  gospel  is  the  only 
panacea  for  all  the  ills  of  humanity.  I  could  say  much  about  my 
own  state  ;  how  I  have  experienced  the  gradual  and  wonderful 
leadings  of  God.  I  turn  round  and  look  back  on  my  past  life, 
and  wonder  at  love  so  free.  This  is  Christian  experience.  If  you 
ask  how  we  come  to  such  experience,  I  may  say  that  my  custom 
has  been  to  carry  every  difficulty,  doubt,  and  sin,  to  God's  throne 
in  praj-er.     Then  you  are  led  in  a  way  that  you  know  not." 


Conxspondence  after  leaving  St,  Andrews,    85 

A  short  time  afterwards  he  writes  to  the  same 
friend  a  most  earnest  letter,  of  which  the  following 
are  the  concluding  sentences.  They  show  how 
spiritual  things  were  taking  a  firmer  hold  of  him, 
and  how  earnestly  he  desired  that  others  should  be 
partakers  of  the  grace  in  which  he  was  resting : — 

"  I  have  long  wished  and  yearned  to  have  a  talk  with  you  on 
religion.  It  is  the  all-important  and  engrossing  subject.  Our 
character,  as  it  is  being  formed  now,  will  decide  and  influence 
our  future  life.  ...  I  daily  pray  to  God  on  your  behalf.  The 
years  of  recess  I  have  had  have  been  those  of  trial  and  discipline 
amid  much  sin.  Blind,  I  have  been  led  in  a  way  I  knew  not. 
I  have  been  taught  to  give  up  my  own  striving  and  working, 
and  look  to  the  finished  work  of  Christ.  If  you  cannot  say  you 
feel  this,  pray,  my  dearest  friend,  that  the  Holy  Spirit  would  give 
you  light,  and  show  you  the  way.  That  was  the  way  I  got  it ; 
and  that  is  the  only  way.  Let  me  be  plain,  and  say  that  as  light 
is  given  me,  and  my  eyes  are  opened  to  see  Christ,  and  believe, 
next  to  the  work  of  preaching  to  all,  the  wish  that  lies  nearest 
my  soul  is  to  know  that  you,  my  dearest  and  most  valued  friend, 
have  found,  and  are  resting  in  the  same  Saviour.  May  we  have 
a  '  strong  consolation '  given  us  to  lay  hold  on  that  only  hope. 
Your  ever  affectionate  friend,  George  T.  Dodds." 

Writing  once  more  from  "St.  Mary's,  Yarrow," 
and  dating  ''  Wednesday,  June,  1872,"  he  gives  his 
friend  a  full  and  graphic  picture  of  his  daily  tutorial 
life.  He  seems  to  have  enjoyed  it  much ;  and  of  the 
Yarrow  hills  and  streams  he  was  never  weary.  We 
get  a  glimpse  of  his  philological  tastes,  and  of  the 
way  in  which  he  prosecuted  his  linguistic  studies  in 


86  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds. 

connection  with  his  teaching.  I  had  frequent  occa- 
sion in  after  years  to  notice  this  faculty  which  he 
had  of  generalising  philology,  and  looking  at  each 
language  through  the  medium  of  other  cognate 
tongues;  also  of  leading  his  pupils  in  the  same 
peculiar  road.  He  familiarised  them  with  all  the 
ramifications  of  classical  tongues,  knitting  languages 
together  in  a  most  ingenious  but  natural  way : — 

"  I  have  learned  this  in  my  teaching,  that  if  one  is  to  teach 
he  must  be  a  scholar  ;  and,  without  conceit,  I  can  say  that  in 
several  departments  of  human  knowledge,  I  have  made  slightly 
satisfactory  progress.  Of  course,  teaching  Latin  and  Greek 
constantly,  one  necessarily  comes  to  be  expert.  But  there  is  a 
kind  of  scholarship  which,  even  in  teaching,  depends  on  our 
own  personal  exertion.  I  am  deeply  engrossed  with  philology 
just  now.  I  teach  the  Latin,  Greek,  French,  German,  and 
English,  all  as  cognate  branches  of  the  great  European  Japhetic 
family ;  and  surpassingly  interesting  it  is  to  do  so.  Then 
I  give  my  pupils  lessons  on  Scripture  history.  They  have  read 
St.  Paul's  voyage  and  shipwreck  in  Greek,  with  Conybeare  and 
Howson  on  the  same  ;  they  are  just  now  reading  the  standard 
work.  Smith  of  Jordanhill's  book,  on  the  same  subject.  They 
have  done  more  than  160  deductions  on  Euclid,  and  are  doing 
more.  They  study  Heath's  '  Natural  Philosophy ' ;  and  are  fair 
chemists  in  the  experimental  department,  ...  I  am  glad  Mr. 
M'Ciindle  is  to  be  with  you.  I  should  dearly  like  to  be  there 
too.  He  is  a  good  scholar,  and  a  great  friend  of  mine.  I  like 
the  man  very  much.  He  was  out  in  Africa  after  his  divinity 
course,  as  secretary  to  some  Government  department.  At  the 
Disruption  he  came  home.  He  preaches  here  every  alternate 
Sunday  ;  the  Established  Church  minister  the  other.  .  .  .  My 
mind  is  in  a  curious  state.     You  know  how  long  I  was  of  coming 


Correspondence  after  leaving  St.  Andreivs.    8  7 

owi;*  and  only  now  are  the  feelings  and  affections  developing  ; 
and  I  regret  to  say  they  are  giving  evidence  that  I  am  to  be  a 
nervous,  excitable,  anxious,  and  mentally-depressed  man.  I  am 
never  free  from  depression  of  some  sort  or  other,  and  that  is  not 
good.  Nevertheless,  I  am  in  God's  hand  ;  and  in  dark  attire 
the  embassy  of  grace  doth  often  come.  Ah  !  my  friend,  we  need 
learning  in  the  lowly  school  of  affliction  ;  we  must  not  blindly 
obey  any  human  authority,  only  God's.  Let  every  man  be  fully 
persuaded  in  his  own  mind  ;  that  is  my  feeling  ; — it  is  curious 
you  should  have  come  to  the  same  conclusion  at  the  same  time. 
I  pray  that  both  of  us  may  be  strengthened,  and  guided,  and 
preserved.  '  Let  the  entrance  of  Thy  Word  give  light ! '  Make 
wise  the  humble  !  Humility  and  truth — let  us  have  these ;  they 
are  eternal  powers,  and  rule  secretly  but  surely."  t 

*  Giving  utterance  to  his  mind. 

+  The  story  of  Hengstenberg's  revolt  from  rationalism,  and  the 
contempt  with  which  he  was  received  in  consequence  of  his  avowal 
of  the  change,  is  thus  told  by  Tholuck:  "Tholuck  says,  that  Professor 
Hengstenberg  of  Berlin  was  formerly  of  Bonn,  and  a  very  warm  and 
decided  rationalist.  Although  now  not  more  than  twenty-five  years 
old,  he  was  already  so  distinguished  that  professorships  in  several  de- 
partments were  in  his  offer :  Greek,  Oriental  Languages,  Philosophy, 
and  Theology.  He  determined,  however,  to  leave  Bonn,  and  left 
behind  him  a  strong  and  open  declaration  of  his  principles.  Shortly 
after,  he  was  led  to  attend  a  religious  service  among  the  Moravians. 
The  discourse  made  such  an  impression  on  his  mind,  that  his  confidence 
in  the  truth  of  his  own  opinions  was  very  much  shaken.  He  betook 
himself  to  the  simple  study  of  the  Bible,  and  at  last  came  oiit  a  firm 
and  practical  believer  in  the  great  truths  of  the  Gospel.  He  is  now 
Professor  of  Oriental  Languages  at  Berlin,  and  exceedingly  bold.  In 
one  of  his  first  lectures  he  said  :  "  It  matters  not  whether  we  make 
a  god  out  of  stone,  or  out  of  our  own  understanding,  it  is  still  a  false 
god}  there  is  but  one  living  God,  the  God  of  the  Bible."  This 
declaration  was  received  with  hissing  and  scraping  by  a  large  part 
of  the  students,  by  which  he  was  little  intimidated.  He  often  asserts 
that  "  it  is  only  the  heart  which  doubts."   When  Professor  Harms  of 


88  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

Two  months  later  he  gives  the  following  account 

of  himself.     The  depression  that  he  speaks  of  arose 

in  great  measure  from  physical  causes,  temporary  in 

their  nature  ;  though  he  was  perhaps  too  apt  to  give 

way  to  such  dejections : — 

"  I  was  so  ill  that  I  did  not  expect  to  pass.  I  have  passed,  and 
■wondrous  to  say,  was  highest  in  natural  philosophy.  What 
would say  ? — Oh, ,  you  are  no  judge  of  a  man's  attain- 
ments. You  could  not  teach.  A  teacher  needs  a  discerning 
eye  to  find  out  all  the  qualities,  often  latent,  of  his  pupils ;  to 
bring  them  out  and  cherish  them.  Education  is  not  so  much 
putting  something  into  a  man  as  bringing  something  out — 
turning  up  the  mind  to  the  light.  I  hope  you  are  prospering 
in  your  work,  and  that  a  blessing  from  on  high  is  given  you. 
Your  remarks  in  last  letter  are  identically  my  own  sympathies 
about  the  age  we  live  in.  Our  Christianity  is  reconciling  ;  but, 
at  the  same  time,  it  must  be  antagonistic  always  to  certain 
schools.  I  cannot  give  credit  for  an  entire  absence  of  moral 
obliquity  to  many  men.  They  know  what  they  are  doing,  but 
don't  care.  We  must  be  aggressive, — given  to  attack  ;  but  the 
reason  of  our  attacks  must  ever  be  love, — love  to  all  mankind. 
'  The  terrors  of  the  law  in  love  '  is  a  grand  reason  for  our  work." 

Several  expressions  in  these  letters  indicate  the 

grave  suspicion  with  which  he  regarded  some  with 

whom  he  was  brought  into  contact.     They  thought 

themselves   warranted  in   continuing  to   belong  to 

Churches  whose  creed  they  had  ceased  to  homolo- 

Kiel  came  out  on  the  side  of  the  Bible,  at  the  tercentenary  of  the 
Lutheran  Reformation,  he  was  overwhelmed  with  abuse.  At  least 
eighty  pamphlets  in  German  and  Latin  were  launched  against  him. 
But  his  protest  was  not  in  vain. 


Correspondence  after  leavmg  St.  Andrews.    89 

gate  and  to  teach.  His  transparent,  straightforward 
character  shrunk  from  such  unmanliness.  He  would 
not  subscribe  the  standards  of  a  Church  if  he  did 
not  thoroughly  assent  to  them,  and  if  he  were  not 
prepared  to  teach  the  subscribed  doctrine  fully  and 
without  reserve.  We  live  in  a  land,  certainly,  where 
any  one  may  think  what  he  pleases.  And  so  long  as 
a  man  does  not  offer  himself  as  a  teacher  in  a 
Church,  there  is  perfect  liberty  to  believe  and  to 
teach  what  his  own  conscience  or  convenience 
dictates.  But  in  choosing  an  official  creed  he 
voluntarily  curtails  this  liberty,  and  he  is  no  longer 
entitled  to  promulgate  the  "  diverse  and  strange 
doctrines"  of  modern  thought,  or  to  withhold  the 
teaching  of  those  other  doctrines,  by  professing  to 
accept  which  he  had  secured  his  position  in  one 
of  the  denominations  wdnch,  before  entrance,  demand 
such  a  profession  from  its  teachers.  Hence  the 
reference  in  the  preceding  letter  to  "moral  obliquity;" 
and  that  judgment  which  he  passed  on  them  ;  "  they 
know  what  they  are  doing,  but  don't  care." 

The  last  letter  of  this  series  which  I  shall  quote  is 
somewhat  later  than  any  of  the  preceding,  but  it  brings 
us  up  to  his  theological  studies  in  Edinburgh,  and  is 
dated  "St.  Mary's,  Yarrow,  Tuesday,  23rd  June,  1874." 

"Glad  I  am  to  be  in  this  lovely  spot  once  more.  To  lie 
quiet  among  the  green  hills,  and  beside  this  fair  loch  ;  to  hear 


90  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

no  city-hum  of  busy,  noisy,  perpetual  work  ;  only  to  listen  to 
the  wild  curlew  crying  as  she  sweeps  round  some  heathery  hill, 
or  to  watch  the  plover  complaining  as  she  sweeps  so  close  to 
you,  luring  you,  as  she  thinks,  from  her  young  !  This  place 
is  as  lovely  as  ever.  I  never  tire  watching  the  changing  clouds, 
— and  the  fading  and  growing  colours  on  the  hills, — how  the 
misty  sunlit  vapour  touches  their  retiring  ridges !  You  have  got 
something  of  that  down  at  Eoberton ;  only  your  hills  are  not 
quite  so  picturesque — flatter,  and  not  so  shut  in  as  ours  are. 
Nevertheless,  you  have  a  lovely  spot  to  abide  in,  specially  that 
Harden  Valley  of  yours,  which  is  more  wooded  than  anything 
here.  I  thank  God  for  this  opportunity,  during  my  student  life, 
of  coming  here  and  resting,  and  having  a  time  of  comparative 
quiet  ere  I  go  out, — where  ?*  To  work  more  directly  for  Him, 
to  spend  my  life  for  His  glory.  What  a  privilege  we  divinity 
students  have  had,  of  living — merely  being  alive — to  see  that 
work  in  last  winter.  It  seems  to  be  deepening  and  spreading 
over  the  whole  country.  You  must  have  returned  refreshed  for 
your  work  at  Roberton.  I  hope  we  shall  have  the  like  bless- 
ing next  winter  when  we  return  to  Edinburgh.  ...  I  preached 
here  last  Sunday.     It  was  rather  an  ordeal.     If  we  could  just 

*  In  the  Life  of  Dr.  Hodge  of  Princeton,  the  following  note  occutr, 
which  the  reader  may  place  alongside  of  the  several  hints  Mr.  Dodds 
gives  us  of  anticipations  regarding  his  own  future  life  :  "  Young 
men  are  sometimes  disposed  to  determine  present  duty  by  their 
anticipations  of  the  future,  Mr.  Baker  told  me  that  he  expected  to 
spend  his  life  in  preaching  the  Gospel  in  the  mountains  of  Virginia  ; 
and  therefore  would  not  need  a  thorough  theological  training.  On 
this  account  he  declined  to  enter  the  Theological  Seminary.  In  less 
than  a  year  after  leaving  College  he  was  married  and  licensed,  and 
entered  on  his  work.  The  first  thing  we  heard  of  him,  was  that  he 
was  called  to  be  the  pastor  of  an  important  church  in  Savannah ;  then 
he  was  called  to  Washington,  where  he  had  Senators  and  Congress- 
men for  his  hearers.  He  subsequently  discovered  that  God  had  called 
him  to  be  an  itinerant,  and  as  such  he  was  eminently  successful," 


Correspondence  after  leaving  St.  Andrews.    9 1 

get  free  of  self  when  preaching,  and  speak  for  God,  or  rather  let 
the  Spirit  speak  in  you.  .  .  .  The  inclosed  hymn  is  by  my 
youngest  pupil,  and  a  translation  by  myself  in  Latin." 

To  the  last  he  took  a  deep  interest  in  his  fellow- 
students  ;  referring  with  much  sorrow  to  some  who 
had  turned  aside,  and  with  satisfaction  to  others  who 
were  pressing  forward.  Some  curious  incidents  con- 
nected with  both  of  these  classes  he  could  tell ;  and 
in  the  letters,  from  which  I  have  been  extracting, 
there  are  not  a  few  remarks,  interesting  and  discrim- 
inating, but  which  would  hardly  bear  quotation. 

What  was  the  exact  import  of  Dr.  Hodge's  (Ameri- 
can) impassioned  address  to  the  students  from  the 
Princeton  pulpit,  now  half-a-century  ago,  one  can 
only  venture  to  guess.  But  it  is  recorded  that  in 
the  midst  of  his  sermon  he  turned  round  to  the  right 
hand  gallery  where  the  young  men  were,  and  con- 
veyed to  them  a  message  from  the  death-bed  of  one 
of  their  number  who  had  just  departed,  "  Tell  them 
from  me,"  said  their  dying  companion,  "to  stop ;  they 

ARE  MAD." 

"  It  is  young  men  in  dead  earnest  that  we  need," 
said  another,  "  to  fill  up  the  gaps  of  the  ministry." 
And  the  earnestness  which  the  age  and  the  Church 
need  is  the  earnestness  not  of  unbelief,  but  of  faith ; 
the  earnestness  of  men  who  have  measured  time, 
but  found  that  they  could  not  measure  eternity. 


CHAPTER  III. 

student's  life  in  EDINBURGH. 

^HE  preceding  letters,  written  during  his 
"  tutorial  "  life,  will  give  an  excellent 
picture  of  his  mental  and  spiritual  pro- 
gress during  that  interval  of  partial  rest  between 
his  St.  Andrews  and  his  Edinburgh  career,  which 
insufficient  health  (chiefly  from  what  he  afterwards 
called  "  his  old  enemy,"  intermittent  fever)  had 
unwillingly  compelled  him  to  take. 

That  interval  had  not  been  altogether  an  unstudi- 
ous  one,  though  college  work  had  to  be,  for  a  season, 
lost  sight  of  The  last  year  of  his  curriculum  had 
been  cut  short  by  illness  through  over-study ;  it  was 
needful  that,  before  entering  on  his  Edinburgh  course, 
he  should  have  a  certain  amount  of  mental  repose, 
though  still  prosecuting  his  favourite  studies  and 
pursuits,  reading  a  good  deal,  and  relaxing  himself 
with  out-door  employments,  such  as  gardening,  which, 

with  his  botanical  knowledge,  was  always  a  pleasure 
92 


Student's  Life  i7i  Edinburgh. 


to  him.  Touring  about,  also,  with  his  pupils,  was  a 
great  refreshment  to  one  whose  eye  and  ear  were 
ever  wide  open  to  all  sights  and  sounds  around  him. 
His  frequent  resting-place  was  St.  Mary's  Loch, 
which  he  has  described  in  one  of  his  letters,  and 
which  he  enjoyed  amazingly.  He  taught,  and  yet, 
all  the  while,  he  quietly  looked  about  him  on  the 
beauty  which  surrounded  him  :  not  discontinuing  his 
studies,  yet  enjoying  the  quiet  of  a  Christian  family, 
and  the  opportunity  of  training  up  two  young  men, 
both  by  companionship  and  varied  instruction,  for 
the  futurities  of  active  life.  In  the  capacity  of  tutor 
he  did  his  work  thoroughly.  He  liked  the  tutorship, 
he  loved  his  pupils,  and  he  threw  himself  into  the 
work  of  these  two  years  with  the  same  wholehearted- 
ness  that  he  had  done  into  the  work  of  college  years. 
I  need  hardly  add  that  his  affection  for  his  pupils 
was  returned  by  them  to  the  full. 

This  season  of  retirement  from  college  life  was  not 
only  a  peaceful  but  a  profitable  time,  with  bearings 
upon  his  future  missionary  work,  though  he  knew  it 
not.  The  experience  he  thus  gathered  was  of  a  new 
kind.  Though  he  had  a  great  deal  of  teaching  power 
and  skill  in  his  constitution,  he  had  not  yet  learned 
the  art  of  teaching.  He  soon  found  that  he  could 
teach ;  and  the  discipline  in  this  respect,  through  which 
he  thus  passed  was  most  suitable;  and  in  the  practice 


94  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

of  it  at  this  time,  tie  acquired  a  proficiency  in  "  the 
art  of  instruction"  which  was  most  helpful  afterwards. 
He  learned  how  to  make  use  of  his  previous  acquire- 
ments, and  he  taught  in  earnest.  The  minuteness  with 
which  he  entered  into  every  part  of  the  daily  lessons, 
especially  in  the  language  department,  made  his 
instructions  the  more  lucid  and  lasting.  While 
teaching  he  learned,  and  while  learning  he  taught; 
with  this  only  drawback,  that  he  was  led  into  late 
hours  of  study,  which  told  upon  his  health.  How 
much  this  experience  was  needed  for  his  Paris  work, 
and  how  it  was  brought  out  in  his  intercourse  with 
both  young  and  old  among  the  poor  ouvriers,  I  need 
not  here  say. 

He  had  little  thought  in  these  two  quiet  years 
how  much  he  himself  was  gleaning  for  his  great 
though  brief  life  work.  But  God  generally  trains  us 
in  the  dark.  He  does  not  tell  us  what  He  means  at 
every  step.  We  go  through  His  process.  His  discip- 
line, unconsciously,  and  find  out  only  in  the  end 
what  He  meant,  and  how  wise  tlie  training  was ; 
hard  perhaps,  and  unpleasant,  but  always  suitable. 
We  could  not  have  done  without  it. 

In  1871,  he  came  to  Edinburgh,  and  commenced  his 
theological  career  at  the  New  College.  He  passed 
through  his  full  curriculum  there ;  entering  with 
characteristic  fervour  into  the  work  of  the  different 


Sttide7ifs  Life  ui  Edinburgh.  95 

classes,  and  undergoing  with  high  credit  the  dififerent 
examinations.  His  quiet  room  in  Archibald  Place, 
hard  by  the  Meadows,  could  bear  witness  to  the  ardour 
with  which  he  prosecuted  these  studies,  and  no  less  to 
the  devotional  spirit  in  which  they  were  all  carried  on. 
For  "  Bene  orasse  est  bene  studuisse  "  was  his  motto 
from  first  to  last.  The  classics  he  did  not  throw 
aside;  but  Biblical  philology  was  now  his  more 
peculiar  study,  and  the  niceties  and  beauties  of  New 
Testament  Greek  occupied  him  intensely. 

It  was  during  the  last  of  these  years  that  he  set 
himself  to  study  Sanscrit  under  Professor  Aufrecht 
(now  of  Bonn),  and  in  it  he  made  great  proficiency. 
Though  his  busy  after-life  arrested  his  progress  in  it, 
he  never  allowed  himself  to  forget  it.  In  that 
comparative  philology  in  which  he  delighted,  he  was 
constantly  recurring  to  it,  bringing  it  to  bear  upon 
the  various  languages,  ancient  and  modern,  which  he 
was  studying  or  using.  To  trace  a  modern  word  whose 
origin  was  wrapt  in  mystery  to  its  Sanscrit  affinities, 
was  his  delight ;  and  his  power  of  explaining  and 
illustrating  these  linguistic  niceties  was  peculiar.  He 
did  not  use  many  words,  but  what  he  did  use  went  to 
the  point,  and  brought  out  the  simple,  or  it  might  be 
great,  original  idea  which  the  syllable  or  sound  was 
intended  to  convey.  These  derivations  had  quite  a 
charm  to  him ;  nor  did  he  fail  to  make  them  inter- 


9  6  Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

esting  to  others.  He  never  hored  anybody  with  his 
philology ;  but  he  was  always  ready  to  give  out  his 
stores.  In  one  of  our  last  walks  in  Paris,  we  came 
to  the  railway  station  at  Auteuil,  over  which  is 
inscribed,  Gare  de  Vouest  I  asked  him  how  it  was 
that  both  English  and  French  languages  had  that 
word  luest  in  common.  He  reminded  me  that  they 
also  had  east  in  common;  explaining  that  these 
names  of  opposite  points  of  the  compass  carried  us 
back  to  the  Sanscrit,  in  which  the  words  described  a 
peculiar  sound  or  breathing  supposed  to  be  character- 
istic of  both  these  quarters.  He  imitated  the  sound 
with  his  voice,  which,  with  his  fine  ear,  he  could  do 
well.  But  as  to  the  setting  it  down  on  paper,  that 
is  hopeless.  You  could  hardly  ask  him  any  such 
philological  question,  but  his  information  was  at  hand, 
and  his  answer  ready. 

He  studied  also  the  Gothic,  and  very  thoroughly ; 
making  himself  complete  master  of  its  grammar,  as 
well  as  of  its  vocabulary.  This  led  him  to  investigate 
the  history  and  opinions  of  Ulphilas,  the  apostle  of 
the  Goths ;  especially  with  reference  to  his  famous 
translation  of  the  Bible  into  the  Gothic  language 
about  the  year  of  our  Lord,  370.  He  had  read  up  all 
the  literature  of  this  most  interesting  subject  both  in 
English  and  German.  He  had  made  it  for  years  his 
favourite  study,  and  though  not  satisfied  as  to  the 


Sttcdenfs  Life  in  Edinburgh.  97 

soundness  of  that  Gothic  apostle  and  translator,  he  felt 
intensely  interested  in  his  history,  both  as  a  scholar 
and  a  missionary.  Into  the  history  of  the  period  he 
had  somewhat  minutely  entered,  and  thought  that  he 
was  able  to  throw  some  light  upon  the  opinions  of 
Ulphilas.  He  had  collected  large  materials  for  this 
purpose,  and  had  woven  them  into  a  narrative  of 
some  length.  He  had  made  considerable  progress 
in  a  monograph  of  Ulphilas,  and  he  has  left 
behind  him  a  valuable  manuscript,  in  which  he 
had  worked  up  his  materials  somewhat  fully ;  yet, 
perhaps,  requiring  to  be  recast  and  rewritten. 
Wherever  he  went, — to  Scotland  or  to  Clermont, — 
with  the  prospect  of  a  spare  moment,  he  carried  it 
with  him ;  adding  to  the  materials  out  of  which  he 
was  perfecting  it,  though  unable  from  want  of  leisure 
to  remould  and  rewrite  it.  He  hoped  in  his  retirement 
at  Buisson  to  do  something  towards  its  completiou, 
and  he  had  brought  with  him  this  labour  of  love, 
— so  often  revised,  so  often  turned  over,  so  often 
corrected,  so  often  fondly  handled,  to  that  place, 
thinking  that  he  might  do  something  towards  its 
completion.  For  during  his  five  years  of  work  in 
Paris  he  rarely  found  it  possible  to  touch  it.  He 
had  so  far  used  it  that  it  furnished  him  with  materials 
for  some  lectures  which  he  delivered,  not  only  before 
he  left  home,  but  in  Paris.     But  as  to  remoulding  it 

H 


98  Memoir  of  Rev.  G,  T.  Dodds. 

or  rewriting  it,  that  was  impossible,  unless  some 
months  of  leisure  should  turn  up,  which  he  could 
hardly  look  for.  In  this  his  self-denial  came  out 
strongly.  As  the  man  of  letters  he  would  gladly 
have  thrown  himself  upon  that  history,  to  which 
he  had  so  fondly  devoted  years  of  study,  and 
finished  it.  But,  as  the  missionary  to  the  ouvriers 
of  France,  he  had  other  work  to  do.  He  must  let 
XJlphilas  alone.  He  must  let  Gothic  and  Sanscrit 
stand  by.  The  urgent  work  before  him  was  to 
preach  the  Gospel  to  the  Parisian  poor  night 
after  night.  To  that  all  literature  was  a  secondary 
thing.  The  history  of  the  old  Gothic  translator 
could  wait,  but  the  Gospel  could  not.  The  story  of 
the  Cappadocian  captive  and  his  missionary  work 
was  marvellously  interesting  and  romantic,  but 
the  story  of  the  great  Redemption  was  a  thing  of 
far  higher  necessity.  It  did  not  matter  much  to 
the  poor  dwellers  in  Eue  St.  Honore,  or  Gare  d'lvry, 
or  Gros  Caillou,  or  Batignolles,  or  Grenelle,  what  the 
Gothic  version  of  Scripture  was  worth,  or  what  was 
the  exact  nature  of  the  translator's  Arianism  ;  but  it 
mattered  everything  to  them  to  hear  without  delay 
and  with  a  most  earnest  voice,  the  tidings  of  eternal 
life  through  Him  who  died  and  rose  again.  Ulphilas 
must  be  locked  up  in  the  meantime;  the  Codex 
Argenteus  must  lie  peaceably  in  the  Upsala  Univer- 


St2ide7ifs  Life  in  Edinburgh.  99 

sity  Library ;  and  the  literary  materials  lie  upon  the 
shelf  till  he  could  spare  time  from  preaching  the  Gospel 
to  take  up  once  more  his  beloved  work,  so  eagerly 
entered  on  and  so  devotedly  carried  out  in  his  peace- 
ful Edinburgh  hours.  The  prospect  of  a  little  leisure 
in  September,  1882,  was  soon  and  sorrowfully  ended. 
It  was  but  a  glimpse;  no  more.  He  had  thought 
to  resume  his  Gothic  studies  in  that  September  in 
which  he  lay  upon  his  death-bed.  But  the  wished-for 
resumption  was  denied  him.  He  retired  into  solitude 
not  to  study,  but  to  find  at  Buisson  the  gate  of 
heaven.  At  his  death  the  well-thumbed  MS.  was 
found  on  his  table, — untouched.  A  strange  relic 
it  is  of  studious  industry.  It  ought  not  to  lie 
on  the  shelf.  It  is  so  far  complete,  and  very  valu- 
able. But  there  are  few  who  could  undertake  the 
labour  and  research  necessary  to  perfect  it,  and 
fewer  who  could  throw  themselves  into  the  subject 
with  such  enthusiasm,  or  to  whom  Ulphilas  could  be 
what  he  had  been  to  him, — the  companion  and  com- 
fort of  many  a  morning  and  evening  hour. 

These  Gothic  studies  had  been,  during  his  Edin- 
burgh sojourn,  a  source  of  intense  pleasure.  Though 
he  did  not  allow  them  to  interfere  with  his  class- 
work,  they  seemed  to  be  uppermost  in  his  thoughts. 
From  the  time  of  our  first  acquaintance  in  1873 
I  saw  this.      For,  as  I  happened  to  possess  some 


lOO       Memoir  of  Rev,  G.  T,  Dodds, 

materials  which  he  needed  upon  the  subject,  several 
of  his  visits  to  me  were  specially  to  get  the  use  of 
these,  and  thus  I  knew  all  along  the  bent  of  his  mind, 
as  well  as  the  progress  he  was  making.  And  before 
he  left  for  Paris  he  delivered  an  admirable  lecture 
upon  the  subject  in  the  hall  of  my  Church, — brief, 
comprehensive,  interesting.  For  even  in  these  his 
student-days  he  made  a  capital  lecturer.  He  could 
state  his  facts  and  draw  his  conclusions  in  a  most 
clear  and  orderly  manner ;  nothing  high-flown  or 
juvenile,  but  everything  compact  and  well-put,  the 
produce  of  minute  study  and  ripe  judgment. 

Few  things  gave  him  greater  pleasure  than  to  com- 
municate to  his  friends  (as  he  did  often  to  myself 
when  he  came  to  consult  my  Gothic  dictionary  with 
its  curious  Ulphilane  fragments)  his  philological 
discoveries  in  the  Gothic  language,  and  the  frequent 
light  shed  upon  passages  of  Scripture  from  these 
discoveries.  He  could  not  clear  him  of  Arianism, 
but  he  was  fain  to  minimise  it  or  excuse  it.  The 
"  Little  Wolf"  (Wulfilas=i:Ulphilas)  had  become  quite 
a  friend.  He  wrote  an  essay  on  the  man  and  his 
work  for  Professor  Rainy,  to  which  a  prize  was 
awarded.  This  he  afterwards  extended  and  offered 
to  a  London  publisher.  The  offer  was  accepted,  and 
he  set  to  work  upon  it  to  perfect  it.  For  on  such 
almost  unbroken  ground  he  wished  to  be  exact  and 


Student's  Life  in  Edinburgh.         loi 

full;  and  he  delayed  the  completion  for  the  purpose  of 
making  more  extensive  research.  Tomes  of  intricate 
German  were  waded  through,  and  the  results  carefully 
chronicled.  But  before  they  were  reduced  to  order 
his  Paris  work  (as  we  have  seen)  began. 

Through  the  various  metaphysical  and  philoso- 
phical discussions  of  the  day,  he  made  his  way 
most  manfully.  He  read  on  all  sides,  and  knew  all 
arguments  'pro  and  con.  He  faced  all  difficulties, 
and  weighed  the  statements  of  an  antagonist  as 
honestly  as  those  of  a  friend.  He  had  ripely  made 
up  his  mind  upon  the  chief  theories  afloat ;  and  it 
was  easy  to  see  in  conversation  how  aptly  he  had  laid 
bold  of  all  their  points,  whether  strong  or  weak. 
For  some  declamatory  philosophers  he  had  little 
patience,  but  for  the  calm  reasoner,  on  whatever  side, 
he  had  sincere  respect.  Alive  to  the  folly  of  dogma- 
tism, he  was  not  always  disposed  to  speak  gently 
of  those  who  seemed  to  think  every  one  wrong  but 
themselves.*      He  learned,   even  in   these   college 

*  Philosophical  storms  are  not  uncommon  in  universities.  Here 
is  the  description  of  a  German  professorial  battle  : — "It  is  said  that 
the  Ministerium  wish  to  send  Professor  Hengstenberg  to  Bonn,  or 
force  him  to  relinquish  the  Kirchen-Zeitung.  It  seems  as  if  a  storm 
was  brewing.  The  Ministerium  censured  the  Theological  Faculty- 
respecting  the  petition  of  the  students,  and  particularly  Neander. 
The  Hegelians  are  working  strongly  against  the  Evangelical  party. 
Marheineke  had  the  amazing  presumption  to  say  to  Neander,  in  a 
meeting  of  the  Senatus  Academicus,  "  Thou  ignorant  man,  you  are 


I02        Memoir  of  Rev,  G.  T.  Dodds. 

days,  to  lay  some  stress  on  style  ;  and  his  own,  down 
to  the  very  last,  was  remarkably  direct  and  per- 
spicuous. He  never  squandered  words,  nor  lost 
himself  in  a  labyrinth  of  sentences  or  parenthetical 
clauses.  He  said  what  he  wished  to  say,  and  was 
done ;  he  wrote  what  he  intended  to  write,  and  came 
to  an  end.  It  was  the  same  afterwards  with  his 
prayers,  sermons,  and  addresses.  His  mind  was  well 
disciplined  and  well  ordered,  and  what  he  said  par- 
took of  these  qualities. 

He  had  threaded  the  intricacies  of  many  languages, 
ancient  and  modem;  and  there  were  few  difficult 
points  in  connection  with  their  formation,  their 
variations,  their  affinities,  which  he  had  not  con- 
sidered, and  on  which  he  could  not  offer  a  judg- 
ment :  a  judgment  quite  modest,  yet  indicating 
careful  consideration  and  study.  His  hints  thrown 
out  in  conversation  on  the  etymologies  of  words  were 
those  of  a  scholar:  of  one  who  had  not  merely 
mastered  the  conclusions  of  others,  but  who  had 
thought  out  all  for  himself  In  these  discussions 
he  was  never  chargeable  with  onesidedness ;  and 
there  was  always  willingness  to  hear  what  could  be 

unworthy  that  I  should  answer  you."  "  Happil}',"  replied  Neander, 
"you  are  not  my  judge."  When  some  person  present  exclaimed 
at  Marheineke's  conduct,  asking  how  he  could  call  one  of  the 
most  learned  men  in  Germany  an  ignoramus,  he  answered,  "  He 
knows  nothing  of  philosophy,"  i.e.,  Hegel's  system. 


Stttdenfs  Life  in  Edinburgh.  103 

advanced  against  his  views.  Whilst  deferential  to 
those  on  whose  judgment  he  could  confide,  he  was 
quite  decided  in  his  own  conclusions,  and  was  pre- 
pared to  give  well  thought-out  reasons  for  them. 
His  study  of  Sanskrit  had  opened  up  a  wide  field  to 
him,  and  enabled  him  to  trace  out  links  otherwise 
invisible,  as  well  as  to  bring  out  the  shades  of 
significance  in  words  which  only  one  who  could 
bring  these  links  together  could  observe. 

The  theological  questions  of  the  day  he  took  up 
honestly  and  calmly.  In  the  Theological  Society 
he  showed  his  mastery  of  them.  In  conversation  he 
evinced  the  same.  His  sermons,  though  completely 
uncontroversial,  gave  the  results  of  thought  and 
critical  investigation.  He  learned  at  this  time  the 
necessity  of  studying  on  all  sides  every  subject  on 
which  he  was  to  preach;  and  of  sifting  out  the 
meaning  of  each  word  with  the  original  before  him. 
Though  an  attentive  and  respectful  student,  he  was 
not  easily  satisfied  with  prelections  from  the  chair. 
He  had  a  very  high  standard  of  professorial  accom- 
plishments and  character.  His  own  studious  habits 
had  taught  him  what  a  teacher  should  be.  He  aimed 
high  himself,  and  he  expected  others  to  do  the  same. 
Each  year  was  to  himself  a  year  of  rising,  and  he 
expected  it  to  be  the  same  with  others.  Stagnation 
in  study  was  to  him  intolerable.     "Stereotype"  in 


I04        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 

chair  or  pulpit  seemed  inconsistent  with  mental  or 
spiritual  progress.  With  the  profoundest  of  all 
profound  books  before  him,  how  could  either  minister 
or  professor  fail  to  rise  ?  The  excelsior  of  the  student 
was  to  begin  with  the  excelsior  of  the  professor. 
The  power  of  the  professor's  chair  for  good  to  the 
student,  both  as  to  piety  and  learning,  seemed  to 
him  illimitable.  It  was  a  power  which  went  over 
the  whole  of  a  student's  life.  The  spirit  of  his 
teacher  should  be  such  as  to  haunt  the  pupil  to  the 
last :  like  an  attendant  angel. 

Here  I  cannot  refrain  quoting  a  sentence  from 
Dr.  Hodge's  historical  sermon  at  the  reopening  of  the 
Chapel,  in  1874.  His  description  of  the  Princeton 
professors  is  a  striking  one  : — 

"  They  were,  in  the  first  place,  eminently  holy  men.  They 
exerted  that  indescribable  but  powerful  influence  which  always 
emanates  from  those  who  live  near  to  God.  Their  piety  was 
uniform  and  serene  ;  without  any  taint  of  enthusiasm  or  fanati- 
cism. It  was  also  Biblical.  Christ  was  as  prominent  in  their 
religious  experience,  in  their  preaching,  and  in  their  writ- 
ings as  He  is  in  the  Bible.  Christ's  person,  His  glory,  His 
righteousness,  His  love,  His  presence,  His  power,  filled  the 
whole  sphere  of  their  religious  life.  When  men  enter  a  Roman 
Catholic  church,  they  see  before  them  a  wooden  image  of  Christ 
extended  upon  a  cross.  To  this  lifeless  image  they  bow.  When 
students  entered  this  Seminary,  when  its  first  professors  were 
alive,  they  had  held  up  before  them  the  image  of  Christ,  not 
graven  by  art  or  man's  device,  but  as  portrayed  by  the  Spirit  on 
the  pages  of  God's  Word  ;  and  it  is  by  beholding  that  image 


Sttidenfs  Life  in  Edinburgh.  105 

that  men  are  transformed  into  its  likeness  from  glory  to  glory. 
It  is,  in  large  measure,  to  this  constant  holding  up  of  Christ, 
in  the  glory  of  His  person  and  the  all-sufficiency  of  His  work, 
that  the  hallowed  influence  of  the  fathers  of  this  Seminary  is  to 
be  attributed.  .  .  . 

"  There  are  theologians  who  exhort  men  to  think  for  them- 
selves, and  to  receive  nothing  on  authority  ;  .  .  .  and  others  who 
crave  after  novelty  and  aspire  after  originality  ;  .  .  .  and  others 
who  have  a  philosophical  disposition. 

"It  pleased  God  that  the  first  professors  in  this  Seminary 
should  belong  to  neither  of  these  classes.  They  exhorted  their 
students  to  be  humble  rather  than  high-minded.  They  had  no 
fondness  for  new  doctrines,  or  for  new  ways  of  presenting  old 
ones  ;  and  they  dreaded  the  thought  of  transferring  the  ground 
of  faith  from  the  rock  of  God's  Word  to  metaphysical  quicksands. 
For  this  reason  Princeton  Theological  Seminary  was  regarded  by 
the  illuminati  in  every  part  of  the  land  as  very  umbrageous, 
impenetrable  to  any  ray  of  new  light.  This  did  not  move  the 
men  of  whom  we  speak.  They  had  heard  Christ  say  of  certain 
men,  that  the  light  that  is  in  them  is  darkness.  And  knowing 
that  man  is  blind  as  to  the  things  of  God,  they  thought  it  safer 
to  submit  to  be  guided  by  a  divine  hand,  rather  than,  with  dark- 
ness within  and  darkness  without,  to  stumble  on  they  knew  not 
whither. 

"  As  to  the  method  of  instruction  adopted  by  our  first  pro- 
fessors little  need  be  said.  They  both  used  text-books  where 
they  could  be  had.  Dr.  Alexander's  text-book  in  theology  was 
Turrettin's  '  Theologia  Elenchtica,'  one  of  the  most  perspicuous 
books  ever  written.  In  the  discussion  of  every  subject  it  begins 
with  the  Status  Qucestionis,  stating  that  the  question  is  not  this 
or  that ;  neither  this  nor  that,  until  every  foreign  element  is 
eliminated,  and  then  the  precise  point  in  hand  is  laid  down  with 
unmistakable  precision.  Then  follow  in  distinct  paragraphs, 
numbered  one,  two,  three,  and  so  on,  the  arguments  in  its  sup- 


io6        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

port.  Then  come  the  FonUs  Sohdionum,  or  answers  to  objec- 
tions. The  first  objection  is  stated  with  the  answer  ;  then  the 
second,  and  so  on  to  the  end.  Dr.  Alexander  was  accustomed 
to  give  us  from  twenty  to  forty  quarto  pages,  in  Latin,  to  read 
for  a  recitation.  And  we  did  read  them.  When  we  came  to 
recite,  the  professor  would  place  the  book  before  him  and  ask, 
What  is  the  state  of  the  question  ?  What  is  the  first  argu- 
ment ?  What  is  the  second  ?  &c.  Then  what  is  the  first 
objection  and  its  answer  ?  What  the  second  ?  &c.  There  were 
some  of  my  class-mates, — Dr.  Johns,  the  present  bishop  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  in  Virginia,  for  example, — who  would  day  after 
day  be  able  to  give  the  state  of  the  question,  all  the  arguments 
in  its  support  in  their  order,  all  the  objections  and  the  answers 
to  them,  through  the  whole  thirty  or  forty  pages,  without  the 
professor  saying  a  word  to  him.  This  is  what,  in  the  College  of 
New  Jersey,  used  to  be  called  rowling.  Whatever  may  be 
thought  of  this  method  of  instruction,  it  was  certainly  effective. 
A  man  who  had  passed  through  that  drill  never  got  over  it. 
Some  years  ago  I  heard  the  late  Bishop  M'llvaine  preach  a 
very  orthodox  sermon  in  the  Episcopal  church  in  this  place. 
When  we  got  home,  it  being  a  very  warm  day,  he  threw  himself 
on  the  bed  to  rest.  In  the  course  of  conversation  he  happened 
to  remark  that  a  certain  professor  failed  to  make  any  mark  on 
the  minds  of  his  students.  I  said  to  him,  '  Old  Turrettin,  it 
seems,  has  left  his  mark  on  your  mind.'  He  sprang  from  the 
bed,  exclaiming,  '  That,  indeed,  he  has ;  and  I  would  give  any- 
thing to  see  his  theology  translated  and  made  the  text-book  in 
all  our  Seminaries.'  The  Jesuits  are  wise  in  their  generation, 
and  they  have  adopted  this  method  of  instruction  in  their  insti- 
tutions." 


To  this  I  add  Professor  Wakefield's  description  of 
Dr.  Hodge's  way  of  exegetical  teaching : — 


Stttdenfs  Life  in  Edinburgh.  107 

"  He  taught  exegesis  only  to  the  juniors,  and  although  five 
years  have  elapsed,  the  impressions  made  at  that  time  remain  as 
vivid  as  though  it  were  yesterday.  His  very  mode  of  entering 
the  room  was  characteristic.  Infirm  as  he  was,  he  was  not  bent 
by  extreme  age  or  infirmity  ;  his  carriage  was  erect  and  grace- 
ful, and  his  step  always  firm.  The  mantle  that  hung  from  his 
shoulders  during  the  cooler  months  heightened  the  efi'ect  of 
graceful  movement.  I  well  remember  that  when  he  stepped 
into  the  aisle  of  the  First  Church  to  welcome  Drs.  Dorner  and 
Christlieb  on  their  visit  to  Princeton,  in  the  autumn  of  1873, 1 
thought  I  had  never  witnessed  a  finer  spectacle  of  strength  and 
grace  combined.  And  yet  it  was  but  an  example  of  his  ordinary 
bearing  ;  he  gave  me  the  same  impression  every  time  he  entered 
the  recitation  room.  After  his  always  strikingly  appropriate 
opening  prayer  had  been  oS'ered,  and  we  had  been  settled  back 
into  our  seats,  he  would  open  his  well-thumbed  Greek  Testa- 
ment— on  which  it  was  plain  that  there  was  not  a  single  marginal 
note, — look  at  the  passage  for  a  second,  and  then,  throwing  his 
head  back,  and  closing  his  eyes,  begin  his  exposition.  He 
scarcely  again  glanced  at  the  Testament  during  the  hour,  the 
text  was  evidently  before  his  mind,  verbally,  and  the  matter  of 
his  exposition  thoroughly  at  his  command.  In  an  unbroken 
stream  it  flowed  from  subject  to  subject,  simple,  clear,  cogent, 
unfailingly  reverent.  Now  and  then  he  would  pause  a  moment 
to  insert  an  illustrative  anecdote — now  and  then  lean  forward 
suddenly  with  tearful,  wide-open  eyes,  to  press  home  a  quick- 
risen  inference  of  the  love  of  God  to  lost  sinners.  But  the  web 
of  his  discourse — ^for  a  discourse  it  really  was — was  calm,  criti- 
cal, and  argumentative.  We  were  expected  to  take  notes  upon 
it  and  recite  on  them  at  our  next  meeting." 

Mr.  Doclds  went  expectingly  to  his  classes, — with 
prayer.  He  returned  home  to  digest,  and  to  pray 
over  what  he  had  learned.      Progress  in  what  he 


io8        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds. 

undertook  was  his  aim.  He  did  not  lounge  over 
his  studies  ;  nor  treat  lightly  a  solemn  subject. 
Even  then  he  realised  in  some  measure  the  eternal 
consequences  dependent  on  the  acceptance  or  rejec- 
tion of  truth.  It  was  trutk  that  he  sought,  and  he 
rested  not  till  he  found  it.  Neither  mind  nor 
conscience  would  be  satisfied  till  he  had  grasped  it. 
It  was  not  an  abstraction  that  he  sought;  it  was 
doctrine  such  as  he  could  build  on  for  eternity, 
doctrine  for  which  he  could  clearly  claim  the  authority 
of  God  in  His  Word. 

The  spirit  of  the  age  is  twofold.  On  the  one 
hand  it  tries  to  materialise  religion,  and  on  the  other 
to  evaporate  Christianity  into  a  mediaeval  myth. 
The  treatment  of  Scripture  by  Ritualism  and  by 
Rationalism  respectively,  represents  the  evolutions  of 
this  spirit.  Thus,  man  will  make  his  own  God,  build 
his  own  temple,  and  construct  his  own  ritual. 

This  dual  form  of  unbelief,  reducing  all  revelation 
to  an  uncertainty  or  a  falsehood,  underlies  the  con- 
troversies of  our  day;  and  students  such  as  Mr.  Dodds, 
getting  below  the  surface  of  logical  discussion,  have 
learned  how  much  depends  on  true  teaching,  not 
merely  as  to  certain  superficial  points,  which  may 
not  be  difiicult  either  to  argue  or  to  settle,  but 
as  to  the  roots  out  of  which  all  these  controversies 
have  sprung. 


Sttidenfs  Life  in  Edinburgh.         109 

As  he  atudied  languages,  so  did  he  study  theology. 
The  ramifications  both  of  truth  and  error  must  be 
thoroughly  sought  out.  The  connection  of  modern 
departures  from  Bible  integrity,  with  the  restless  or 
disbelieving  spirit  of  the  day,  both  outside  the  Church 
and  in  it,  must  be  ascertained.  The  true  meaning  of 
modem  free-thinking,  or  independence  of  thought, 
must  be  searched  out.  The  extreme  desire  (first  ex- 
hibited some  forty  years  ago  in  Maurice's  "  Religions 
of  the  World")  to  prove  the  great  amount  of  truth 
that  there  is  in  all  falsehood ;  to  show  that  the  differ- 
ence between  a  false  and  a  true  religion  is  merely  one 
of  degree,  and  that  there  is  substantial  and  venerable 
truth,  as  well  as  beauty  and  grandeur,  underlying  all 
idolatry  and  superstition,  must  be  sifted  and  exposed, 
— held  up  to  view  in  the  light  of  the  one  revelation 
of  God  to  man.  This  admiration  of  unbelief,  this 
unsettlement  of  faith,  this  reduction  of  the  Bible  to 
an  uncertainty,  this  levelling  up  of  Paganism,  this 
levelling  down  of  Christianity,  this  erasing  of  land- 
marks, this  minimising  of  error, — what  do  they  all 
amount  to, — these  were  the  real  questions,  lying  deep 
underneath  the  apparent  ones,  which  met  the  ear  and 
eye  of  the  thoughtful  student.  The  subtile  complexities 
of  unbelief,  with  their  wide  and  invisible  ramification?, 
were  coming  up  on  every  side,  demanding  the  most 
rigid  consideration.     A  true  student  is  compelled  to 


no        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

confront  these,  both  for  his  own  stability  and  for  his 
future  poAver  as  a  minister  of  the  one  true  Gospel, — 
the  defender  and  expounder  of  the  one  true  Book. 

Into  the  various  Biblical  questions  of  the  time  Mr. 
Dodds  entered  fully ;  and  no  less  into  the  cognate 
theological  discussions.  That  his  own  faith  had  ever 
at  any  time  been  shaken  I  have  no  reason  to  believe ; 
but  that  he  had  gone  into  these  controversies  with 
fear  and  trembling,  I  have  as  little  reason  to  doubt. 
He  did  not  waver,  but  he  wanted  to  make  assur- 
ance doubly  sure;  and  he  turned  over  all  modern 
difficulties  in  his  own  mind  most  carefully  and 
conscientiously. 

He  came  a  grood  deal  into  contact  with  what  is 
called  "the  culture  of  modern  thought;"  and  being 
himself  "  cultured "  above  most,  he  was  able  to 
understand  and  estimate  the  assumed  superiority  of 
mind  and  accomplishments  to  which  that  designa- 
tion has  been  attached.     Thus  he  writes  of  it : — 

"  Wth.  April,  1875. — Culture  is  so  much  veneering,  beautiful 
polish,  superinduced  qualities — and  it  makes  a  man  with  a  bad 
heart  look  as  good  as  one  with  a  good  one.     There  are  bad  men 

and  good  men  among  the  culturists.     If  only were  face  to 

face  with  the  sternness  of  life,  and  saw  its  awful  side  more  ;  for 
culture  hides  that,  and  shrinks  from  human  misery,  and  shuts 
itself  up  in  its  theories.  It  wants  the  laying  bare  of  the  evil 
of  the  heart — the  fall  of  man — and  so  the  discovery  that  man 
is  incomplete  in  himself,  and  can  only  be  made  complete  out  of 
himself,  in  Christ." 


Studenfs  Life  in  Edinburgh.         1 1 1 

He  sometimes  spoke  to  me  of  the  supercilious 
way  in  which  the  adherents  of  old  doctrine  were 
treated.  He  complained  too  of  the  intolerance  dis- 
played by  some  who  called  themselves  liberal  and 
broad  He  mentioned  several  occasions  on  which 
sneers  had  taken  the  place  of  argument  in  debate ; 
in  which  the  advanced  school  had  laid  exclusive 
claim  to  independent  thought  and  impartial  research. 
But  he  was  not  shaken ;  and  he  had  reason  to  know 
that  some  of  those  who,  as  students,  were  thus  illiberal 
toward  ancient  creeds,  became  afterwards  thoroughly 
settled  in  the  faith.  Towards  those  fellow-students 
who  thus  differed  from  him  he  showed  no  resentment. 
In  after  days,  when  he  heard  that  any  of  them  had 
carried  out  their  liberal  views  into  open  unbelief,  he 
expressed  the  deepest  sorrow.  He  had  reached  the 
one  Rock  himself,  and  his  desire  was  that  all  with 
whom  he  had  associated  might  attain  to  the  same 
light  and  peace  ;  for  he  cherished  old  friendships 
most  tenaciously,  and  delighted  to  talk  over  the 
companionships  of  college  days.  He  had  had  his 
own  mind  fully  cleared  up,  and  he  longed  to  see  all 
his  companions  standiug  in  the  same  sunshine. 

The  great  personal  question  between  him  and  God 
as  to  acceptance  and  relationship,  was  slowly  but 
surely  cleared  up,  and  every  mist  rolled  away.  I 
wish   I   could    recall    our    numerous   conversations 


112        Memoir  of  Rev.  G,  T.  Dodds. 

together  as  we  walked  together  or  sat  at  my  fireside. 
Many  an  hour  was  spent  in  earnest  conference  on 
the  freeness  of  the  good  news,  for  the  preaching  of 
which  he  was  specially  training  himself;  and  when 
I  remember  the  clear,  pointed  way  in  which,  when 
telling  the  tidings  to  the  poor  of  Paris,  whether  in 
addresses  or  conversations,  he  proclaimed  the  free 
love  of  God,  without  a  condition  or  a  barrier,  I  can 
only  rejoice  that  such  hours  (often  prolonged  till 
midnight)  were  not  spent  in  vain.  The  following 
extract  from  a  letter  to  me,  of  date  10th  July,  1882, 
will  not  be  thought  out  of  place  as  illustrating  his 
way  of  dealing  with  the  poor  and  dark  : — 

"  I've  been  visiting  instead  of  having  a  meeting.  Last  night 
we  had  a  very  good  after-meeting  at  Grenelle.  I  had  a  most 
interesting  conversation  with  a  woman.  She  is  well  known  to 
me.  She  had  gone  to  the  hall  that  night  by  some  irresistible 
desire  to  ask  how  she  should  be  saved.  Miss  Matheson  called 
me  to  speak  to  her  in  the  after-meeting. 

"  '  I  believe  in  God,'  she  said ;  and  then  added,  *  He  has 
always  given  me  what  I  asked.' 

"  I  said,  '  The  devils  believe,  and  yet  are  afraid.' 

"  '  What,  then,  must  I  do  ?'  she  said. 

"  '  Have  you  ever  asked  the  pardon  of  your  sins  ?'  I  said. 

"  '  No,'  she  replied. 

" '  That  is  what  you  must  do,'  I  said. 

"  '  Is  that  all  ? '  she  inquired  ;  '  and  will  He  really  pardon  me  ? ' 

"  I  read  some  verses  to  prove  that  what  I  had  said  was  true, 
— such  passages  as  that  about  the  woman  that  was  a  sinner. 
We  then  prayed,  and  she  seemed  to  get  light.   But  Miss  Mathe- 


Student's  Life  iJi  Edinburgh.         1 1 3 

son  followed  her  to  the  door,  and  then  she  again  expressed  her 
astonishment  that  that  was  all. 

"  '  Sauvee  ! '  she  said  ;  and  added,  '  Quel  bonheur  ! ' 
"This  morning  I  saw  her,  and  she  said,  'When  I  left  you, 
I  felt  an  immense  burden  taken  off  my  breast.      I  was  like  a 
butterfly  with  wings.' 

*'  I  was  deeply  interested  in  this  aspect  of  her  case.  She 
simply  did  what  I  told  her  God  wished  her  to  do — ask  forgive- 
ness, and  believe  that  she  should  receive  it." 

Yes ;  he  just  bade  her  to  do  what  he  himself  had 
done,  and  what  he  was  doing  every  hour;  and  the  good 
news  brought  instantaneous  light.  This  touching 
incident  took  place  just  two  months  before  he  passed 
away. 

I  do  not  know  the  exact  process  through  which  he 
passed  into  spiritual  light,  further  than  as  it  came 
out  indirectly  in  our  conversations.  He  seemed  some- 
times to  be  stating  his  own  difficulties  to  me,  and 
sometimes  those  of  others.  He  appeared  to  me  at  that 
time  as  one  pressing  into  fuller  light,  and  determined 
to  have  every  doubt  dispelled,  and  every  mistake 
corrected.  He  was  altogether  in  earnest.  But  in  all 
his  inquiries  he  showed  no  misgivings  as  to  the  divine 
accuracy  of  Scripture.  If  he  ever  did  entertain  the 
modern  doubts  as  to  that  accuracy,  or  lent  a  favour- 
able ear  to  recent  theories  of  the  imperfection  and 
uncertainty  of  the  books  of  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ments, he  had  got  beyond  all  this ;  for  when  at  times 

I 


114        Memoir  of  Rev,  G,  T.  Dodds. 

our  conversation  turned  on  such  discussions,  he 
showed  how  he  had  studied  and  mastered  the  different 
points  of  controversy,  and  was  prepared  to  take  his 
stand  upon  the  absolute  certainty  of  the  revealed  Word. 
Unsettlement  as  to  this,  especially  on  the  plea  of  "free- 
thinking," — independence  of  "  traditional  criticism  " 
and  superiority  to  "antiquated  theology," — he  dreaded. 
It  was  the  Church  lifting  her  anchor,  and  deliberately 
consenting  to  drift  before  the  wind  of  modern  thought. 
Without  a  certain  Bible  he  could  not  have  a  certain 
hope  ;  and  in  the  discussion  of  "  settlement  "  or 
"  unsettlement "  he  felt  he  had  a  personal  interest  for 
eternity;  not  the  interest  of  a  scholar  merely,  but 
that  of  an  immortal  being.  Without  inspired  words 
he  could  not  have  inspired  thoughts ;  and  if  neither 
words  nor  thoughts  were  trustworthy  or  reliable,  what 
was  he  to  do  ?  Which  way  was  he  to  turn  his  eye, 
as  one  who  knew  that  eternity  lay  before  him,  and 
that  his  first  concern  was  to  make  sure  of  that 
eternity  ?  Unsettlement  in  philosophy  was  no  great 
matter.  Unsettlement  in  philology  was  compara- 
tively a  trifle.  Nay,  unsettlement  in  points  of 
theology,  within  certain  limits,  might  be  conceded 
without  alarm.  But  unsettlement  as  to  that  Book 
which  professed  to  reveal  the  mind  of  God,  and  on 
which  the  security  of  his  eternal  future  was  involved, 
could  not  be  contemplated  without  dismay. 


Student's  Life  in  Edinburgh.         1 1 5 

One  of  his  Parisian  converts  in  after  days  said,  in 
describing  the  first  steps  of  his  conversion,  that  he 
learned  that  "  God  counted  for  something  in  the 
world."  So  in  reference  to  revelation,  the  young 
student  had  learned  that  "  the  Bible  counted  for 
something  in  the  world."  His  faith  in  it  might  be 
sneered  at  as  iradiiional ;  but  he  knew  that  what 
is  traditional  is  not  necessarily  either  false  or  stupid ; 
and  that  he  could  give  a  good  reason  for  the  hope 
that  was  in  him,  both  logically  and  critically.  He 
knew  also  that  the  use  of  the  word  traditional  by 
modern  critics  w^as  fitted  to  mislead,  and  that  the 
Bible,  thus  stigmatised  as  traditional,  was  truly 
historical, — the  Bible  of  Christ  and  His  apostles, — 
the  Bible  of  the  early  Church, — the  Bible  whose 
canonicity,  as  matter  of  history,  rests  upon  surer 
evidence  than  that  of  any  book,  ancient  or  modern. 

The  canonicity,  if  I  may  use  the  term,  of  Homer, 
or  Herodotus,  or  Virgil,  or  Livy,  has  not  the  tenth 
part  of  the  evidence  to  lean  upon  that  the  Bible  has. 
It  does  not  do  for  traditional  believers  in  Tacitus  or 
Xenophon  to  speak  superciliously  of  traditional 
believers  in  the  Bible.  Intuitive  criticism  can  make 
clever  guesses;  but  historical  criticism  must  be  called 
in  to  put  these  guesses  to  the  test.  Intuitive  criticism 
has  effaced  the  first  ten  chapters  of  Genesis;  it  will  not 
long  hesitate  to  erase  the  rest.    It  has  swept  the  first 


1 1 6        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 

Adam  away;  and  it  will  do  the  same  with  the  Second. 
It  has  deleted  Moses  from  the  Old  Testament,  so  that 
"we  wot  not  what  has  become  of  him;"  it  will  next  try- 
its  obliterating  skill  upon  the  Prophet  like  unto  Moses 
in  the  New.  Making  no  provision  for  reconstruction 
in  any  of  its  efforts,  its  destructive  propensities  are 
fitted  to  disquiet  faith  and  to  inspirit  unbelief 

Resting  his  faith  on  a  certainty,  —  a  Divine 
certainty, — he  realised  his  personal  acceptance,  in 
believing  that  Divine  testimony  to  the  Christ  of  God 
which  he  found  contained  in  this  Revelation.  He  did 
not  ask  the  question,  Is  it  reasonable  to  think  that 
God  would  condemn  a  man  for  not  believing  a 
doctrine,  or  save  him  for  believing  it  ?  He  knew 
that  such  was  the  explicit  statement  of  the  Son  of 
God  Himself :  "  He  that  belie veth  shall  be  saved." 
This  was  a  sufficient  resting-place. 

He  did  not  confine  himself  to  theological  studies. 
He  read  on  many  subjects,  and  would  have  been 
reckoned  "  sesthetic  "  in  his  habits  and  tastes. 
A  skilful  musician,  he  could  not  only  use  his  own 
voice  well,  but  could  play  on  several  instruments. 
And  this  musical  skill  was  of  great  service  to  him 
in  his  Parisian  work,  in  which  he  was  called  on 
sometimes  to  lead  the  service  by  voice  or  organ.* 

*  We  need  expressive  singing,  and  his  was  such  ;  but  in  order 
to  the  expressive  singing  of  the  people  there  must  be  the  expressive 


Stiidenfs  Life  m  Edinbttrgh.         ii  7 

All  his  examinations  did  him  high  credit ;  his 
papers  in  all  the  different  branches  showed  his  superior 
attainments.  At  the  close,  in  competing  for  the 
Cunningham  Fellowship,  he  came  out  third.  I  saw 
him  immediately  after  the  result,  and  he  mentioned 
a  mental  struggle  through  which  he  had  just  passed. 
His  papers  were  faultless  in  all  but  one  section,  and 
that  he  had  left  blank.  He  could  have  answered 
every  one  of  the  questions,  but  it  so  happened  that 
they  related  to  a  portion  of  Church  history  in  which 
he  had  made  for  himself  a  sort  of  brief  technical 
memory, — marks  for  names  and  dates  on  the  boards  of 
his  Greek  Testament.  He  found  that  this  artificial 
memory  would  have  helped  him  to  recall  the 
whole  history,  and  answer  all  the  questions.  But  he 
asked  himself,  Would  this  be  fair  ?  He  decided  not 
to  answer.  I  said  to  him  that  I  thought  he  had  been 
over-scrupulous,  as  these  few  brief  marks  were  mere 
suggestions  for  memory,  and  made  with  no  idea  that 
the  questions  would  take  up  the  points  which,  along 
with  others,  he  had  happened  to  mark.  "  No,"  he 
said,  "  I  could  not  do  it ;  it  was  like  taking  advan- 
tage over  others."  And  then  he  added  solemnly, 
"  I  had  just  risen  from  my  knees  to  go  to  that  exa- 
mination, and  I  had  specially  asked  direction  as  to 

reading  of  the  minister.    The  want  of  the  latter  ia  often  a  very  serious 
drawback,  and  is  more  injurious  to  right  singing  than  many  think. 


ii8        Me7noir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds. 

every  part  of  it ;  and  I  could  not  bear  the  thought 
of  doing  anything  that  might  be  counted  unfair."  He 
never  regretted  this  step.  He  had  satisfied  his  con- 
science ;  and  in  a  matter  which  he  had  considered 
doubtful  he  had  taken  the  side  against  himself.  That 
was  enough.  His  conscience  was  tender,  sometimes 
morbid,  and  to  this  it  was  that  some  of  his  friends 
ascribed  his  last  exhaustion.  He  thought  he  was 
too  much  occupied  with  the  externals  of  the  mission, 
and  he  tried  to  make  up  for  this  by  working  the 
harder  at  the  spiritual  part  of  it,  when  he  should  have 
been  resting.  He  more  than  once  set  out  on  a  Sat- 
urday evening  to  visit  in  the  wretched  lanes  around 
some  of  the  stations,  though  he  had  been  working 
all  the  week,  and  expected  to  preach  three  or 
perhaps  four  times  on  the  morrow. 

In  1875,  the  last  of  his  college  years,  while  yet 
attending  classes,  he  was  appointed  missionary  to 
the  district  of  Causewayside,  Newington,  in  connection 
with  the  Grange  Church.  On  his  work  here  he 
entered  with  great  energy  and  zeal ;  though  it  was 
only  temporary, — a  preparation  for  more  permanent 
duty  elsewhere. 

This  home-missionary  work  was  most  congenial. 
Though  hitherto  more  of  a  secluded  student  than  a 
visiting  missionary,,  he  threw  himself  with  his  whole 
heart  into  the  work  among  the  poor.     Oue  thing 


Stiidcnfs  Life  in  Edinbttrgh.  1 19 

specially   noticeable   about   him   at   this   time    was 
tlie  interest  he  took   in  individuals.     He  was  not 
content  with  preaching  two  or  three  times  a-week  in 
our  mission-hall,  and  having  classes  there;  he  set 
himself  to  seek  out  the  poor,  following  in  the  foot- 
steps of  his  two  admirable  predecessors,  Mr.  Murray 
and  Mr.  Barnetson.    He  watched  all  cases  of  spiritual 
concern;     visiting     them    assiduously,    instructing 
carefully ;  and  when  the  good  seed  began  to  spring 
up,    rejoicing    heartily.        Many    in    that    district 
remember  his  kindness  and  affability  to  this  day. 
The  interest  which  he  took  in  these  special  cases  came 
out  in  his  conversations  about  them  afterwards  with 
myself    He  was  like  a  physician  detailing  to  another 
the  symptoms  of  a  difficult  case,  and  asking  advice 
how  to  deal  with  it  from  those  more  experienced  than 
himself     This  anxiety  to   deal  rightly  with   such 
inquirers  was  no  less  evinced  by  the  way  in  which 
he  bore  them  on  his  heart  in  constant  prayer.     His 
eagerness  to  follow  up  impressions,  to  solve  doubts,  to 
meet  objections,  to  instruct  ignorance,  was  character- 
istic of  his  whole  life.     He  forgot  no  one,  however 
poor  and  wretched ;  and  his  patient  way  of  treating 
them,  showed  how  carefully  he  had   studied  each 
case.     He  never  spoke  to  such  at  random,  but  always 
with  well-chosen  words, — having  thought  out  each 
difficulty  for  himself. 


1 20        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 

In  August,  1876;  he  was  married  to  my  daughter 
Mary,  and  with  her  went,  in  the  month  of  September, 
on  a  short  tour  up  the  Ehine,  returning  by  Paris. 
His  passing  visit  to  that  city  was  to  be  the  link 
between  it  and  himself,  and  to  determine  his  great 
though  brief  life-work  for  the  ouvriers  there. 

In  arranging  as  to  the  marriage,  no  reservation 
was  made  as  to  his  future  field  of  labour ;  that  was 
to  be  determined  afterwards.  With  his  father  he 
corresponded  at  great  length  as  to  the  foreign 
mission-field,  seeking  counsel  of  him ;  yet  not  con- 
cealing his  own  decided  desire  not  to  remain  at 
home.  A  missionary  in  some  foreign  field  he  was 
resolved  to  be.  What  might  be  the  sphere  most 
suitable  to  his  gifts  and  his  health  remained  to  be 
seen.     He  was  totally  unbiassed. 

Some  months  after  his  marriage  he  had  a  severe 
attack  of  rheumatic  fever,  which  prostrated  him  for 
nearly  two  months,  and  which,  I  fear,  left  traces 
behind  it  of  evil  afterwards ;  for  though  he  resumed 
his  mission-work  in  our  district,  he  had  to  take 
special  care  of  his  health,  and  watch  against  a 
recurrence  of  the  malady. 

After  completing  his  missionary  engagement  in 
connection  with  the  Grange  congregation,  he  prepared 
to  leave  for  Paris.  He  had  put  his  hand  to  the 
plough,  and  he  would  not  draw  back. 


Stiidenfs  Life  in  Edinburgh,  1 2 1 

His  student  -  life  in  Edinburgh  had,  notwith- 
standing some  drawbacks  of  health,  gone  on  well  ; 
comfortably  and  successfully.  He  had  completed 
his  curriculum  and  was  "  licensed  "  as  a  preacher 
by  the  Dundee  Presbytery  on  the  14th  of  June, 
1876. 

Life  lay  before  him.  He  looked  into  it,  or  rather 
he  kept  it  continually  before  him,  in  what  he  did  or 
in  what  he  refrained  from  doing.  Distrustful  of  his 
own  powers,  and  perhaps  sometimes  disposed  to  be 
desponding,  he  held  back  when  he  might  have 
taken  a  more  prominent  position,  and  done  more 
conspicuous  work.  But,  if  he  had  possessed  more 
"  self-assertion "  he  might  have  been  led  into  a 
different  sphere,  and  would  not  have  done  the  same 
kind  of  work, — work  (in  the  eyes  of  some)  of  a  very 
humble  kind,  and  withal  arduous  and  self-denying. 
He  did  not  seek  pre-eminence.  He  was  only  desirous 
of  doing  well  what  the  Master  called  him  to  do.  No 
amount  of  labour  discouraged  him ;  though  he  some- 
times wrote  and  spoke  despondingly  about  him- 
self College  examinations  were  nervously,  perhaps 
morbidly,  dreaded  by  him,  from  his  persistent  under- 
estimate of  his  own  powers.  Yet  he  always  came 
out  among  the  highest  in  each  department. 

In  July,  1874,  he  thus  writes : — 

"  I  feel  myself  becoming  more  of  a  secular  student  than  is 


I  2  2        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

good.     I  feel  particularly  persuaded,  that  for  the  ministry  one 
needs  to  make  a  thorough  study  of  the  Bible."  "^ 

He  would  fain  have  pursued  his  Sanscrit  and 
Gothic  studies,  but  felt  that  they  were  encroaching 
on  his  ministerial  preparations.  The  "  work  of  the 
ministry "  was  in  his  eyes  paramount ;  and,  lest  it 
should  be  interfered  with,  he  curtailed, — I  do  not 
say  abandoned, — his  philological  researches. 

In  July,  1876,  after  the  removal  of  examination 

burdens  and  anxieties,  he  thus  writes : — 

"  I  never  know  how  often  and  how  much  I  ought  to  thank 
God  for  my  restored  strength.  I  wish  that  a  song  of  thanks- 
giving were  ever  in  my  heart  and  on  my  lips.  I  am  so  different. 
True,  examinations  are  over,  and  well  over.  But  I  used  to  fret 
my  conscience  about  little  nothings  ;  and  now  that  is  gone,  and 
I  am  not  afraid  to  pray  that  my  conscience  may  be  quickened 
with  a  spirit  of  holy  fear  and  recollection  of  duty.  This  makes 
me  live  in  and  breathe  a  different  atmosphere.  This  change 
affects  my  whole  being,  and  my  mind  becomes  clear  and 
energetic." 

Just  before    his   last   examination  he   had  been 

indulging  in  some  such  anxieties,  as  the  following 

extract  reveals : — 

"  lOf^  Junt^  1875. — I  have  just  been  looking  over  my  work, 
and  I  can  tell  you  it  will  need  more  application  and  steady 
effort  than  I  thought,  and  more  ability  to  get  it  up  than  I  have 

*  "  The  Bible  is  the  great  text-book  for  students,"  said  one.  "  In 
my  student-days  we  used  also  to  read  Calvin,  Gomarus,  Maestricht, 
Ames,  Turrettin.  These  seem  to  have  disappeared.  Yet  they 
were  giants  in  theology  and  criticism." 


Shcdenfs  Life  171  Edinbtirgh,  123 

got, — that  is  all  true ;  but  I  do  know,  what  I  could  not  have 
said  a  short  time  ago,  I  know  that  God  will  carry  me  through 
in  His  own  way.  That  1  do  Tcnow,  and  I  have  this  much  faith 
in  Him,  that  His  way  will  be  best,  whatever  the  result.  I 
know  He  will  help  and  guide  me.  My  inability  to  do  examina- 
tions, and  to  gain  bursaries,  are  God's  cross  given  me  to  bear  ; 
very  likely  it  is  best  for  me  that  I  should  not  win  scholarships 
or  stand  high  in  examinations." 

His  mental  experience  comes  freely  out  in  his 
familiar  letters.  Extracts  from  these  I  propose  now 
to  throw  together.  They  are  of  course  miscel- 
laneous in  their  contents;  but  will  not  be  the  less 
interesting  to  those  who  wish  to  know  the  writer 
thoroughly: — 

"February,  1875. — During  a  slight  illness  he 
wrote,  'Satan  back  with  his  darts  again.  They 
wound  me,  and  I  wound  Christ  by  my  unbelief 
I  tried  to  comfort  myself  with  George  Herbert's 
lines, 

'  Lord,  Thou  hast  lived  and  died  for  me.' 

but  the  tempter  followed  me  there,  and  I  could  only 
say, — how  often  have  I  said  !  (Ps.  xxxviii.  9) — '  All 
my  desire  is  before  Thee  and  my  groaning  is  not  hid 
from  Thee.' 

"It  is  the  presence,  abiding  and  supporting,  of 
Christ, — the  full  manifestation  of  Him  as  the  Light 
for  my  darkness,  that  I  desire.  I  can  only  cast  this 
burden  too  on  the  Lord,  and  wait  in  faith  to  have  it 


124        Memoir  of  Rev,  G.  T,  Dodds. 

rolled  away ;  and  I  can  cast  it  on  Him.  But,  oh ! 
how  I  long  for  more  than  that,  for  the  perfect  recon- 
ciliation, the  sure  tokens  of  His  gracious  presence, 
the  support  of  His  loving  arms  round  about,  and 
beneath,  and  all  from  ahovc^ 

"  Qth  April,  lS7o. — God  is  working  daily  in  me, 
and  would  work  more  were  I  not  so  hard  and  resisting. 
I  have  been  looking  back  upon  some  of  His  past 
teaching,  and  some  of  it  seems  so  clear.  This  was 
often  my  earnest  prayer,  that  instead  of  the  Divine 
work  in  my  daily  and  past  life  seeming  obscure  and 
puzzling,  that  it  might  be  definite  and  thorough, 
and  that  I  might  know  and  keep  the  lessons  I  had 
received.  I  am  so  thankful  that  I  can  now  see  stone 
after  stone  of  His  heiving  and  placing  laid  upon  the 
one  foundation.  I  do  not  think  he  intends  us  to  be 
kept  in  ignorance  of  His  building.  He  likes  us  to 
see  how  He  works.  And  He  has  been  working  in 
me  both  to  will  and  to  do.  I  rejoice  to  see  and 
know  this.  When  the  work  is  obscure  one  does  not 
feel  so  near  to  Christ.  One  does  not  walk  with  Him. 
One  does  not  sit  in  heavenly  places  together  with 
Him.  I  have  been  praying  that  He  would  not  only 
manifest  Himself  to  me,  but  in  me  more  and  more. 
How  comforting  it  is  to  be  shut  in  within  the  walls 
of  salvation  by  Christ,  to  know  the  power  of  His 


Student's  Life  in  Edinburgh.  125 

resurrection,   and   His   daily  intercession   and   care 
for  us." 

What  he  had  already  known  of  Divine  truth  was 
becoming  more  and  more  a  reality.  He  was  learning 
more  of  himself  and  more  of  that  heavenly  doctrine  by 
which  he  was  to  be  delivered  from  himself,  and  pre- 
pared for  coming  work  : — 

"  28^/i  April,  1875. — I  have  daily  cause  for  daily 
thanks  for  so  much  teaching,  so  much  light,  so  many 
solutions  of  difficulties  or  dispersion  of  false  perplex- 
ities, so  much  real  life  with  God,  and  so  much 
sense  of  the  value  of  Christ  and  of  the  daily 
need  of  His  grace,  and  of  His  own  personal 
preciousness,  and  also  a  growing  fear  of  backsliding, 
and  sense  of  sin.  All  these  I  have  been  blessed  with 
so  thickly  more  or  less  during  these  past  weeks." 

"  1st  May,  1875. — God's  teaching  is  so  sure,  and 
real,  and  precious  to  me  now  that  I  doubt  not  but 
that  He  will  teach  me  all  things  I  need,  and  fire  me 
with  zeal  to  serve  Him  constantly,  and  faithfully,  and 
successfully. 

"  I  am  sure  I  do  see  the  evil  of  encouraging  or 
fondling  that  habit  of  allowing  oneself  to  entertain 
doubts  ;  my  daily  prayer  is  that  I  may  not  doubt  or 
limit  Christ's  love  to  myself,  and  especially  to  all 


126        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.   T.  Dodds, 

men.  I  have  had  so  much  of  it  lately,  so  gracious  a 
sense  of  His  love,  that  I  do  not  doubt ;  but  the  Evil 
One  comes  and  suggests  doubts  about  others — nations, 
people  living  in  ignorance, — but  I  think  what  we 
have  to  learn  is  to  believe  on  God's  bare  word  ;  and 
why  should  I  not  get  this  ?  Christ  is  the  Way,  the 
Truth,  and  the  Life,  and  if  He  not  only  shows  truth 
but  is  it  Himself,  then  He  must  be  true  in  all  His 
purposes  concerning  salvation.  I  must  keep  fast 
hold  of  this ;  but  would  that  it  were  so  firmly  mine 
that  I  had  no  shadow  of  a  doubt.  I  came  on  a  good 
saying  the  other  day  :  '  A  man  in  perplexity  may  be 
able  to  keep  his  belief,  but  he  cannot  impart  it  to 
others.'  That  thought  has  been  in  my  mind  for  ever 
so  long,  but  could  not  get  out,  and  here  it  is.  How 
true !  It  is  only  when  I  have  a  firm  hold  of  God's 
truth  myself  that  I  can  impart  it  to  others.  The 
want  of  this  is  the  cause  of  weak  preaching.  I  put 
it  once  aphoristically  thus :  '  Kestlessness  (engen- 
dered as  it  is  by  doubt)  has  no  resistlessness ;  but 
faith  has  it  alone  and  always.' 

"I  should  like  to  ask,  How  far  do  you  think 
speculation  is  necessary,  nay  _23?'Oj9er,  in  regard  to 
truths  that  are  revealed,  and  can  only  be  known  by 
revelation  ? " 

"  \^th,  April,  1875. — Intolerable  as  it  is  to  me  just 


Studenfs  Life  m  Edinburgh.         127 

now,  how  much  more  intolerable  and  evil  will  it  be 
if  I  begin  work  in  June,  not  having  a  firm  grasp  of 
the  truths  I  speak  of,  but  lamely  holding  them. 
One  thing  I  am  being  taught  to  say :  '  Lord,  I  believe, 
help  Thou  my  unbelief,' — that  is  Christ,  outside,  /or 
me,  making  belief  in  me." 

Sailing  from  London  to  Dundee  he  gives  vent 
to  his  feelings  in  a  paragraph  which  I  shall  quote 
at  length ;  and  I  may  preface  it  with  saying 
that  his  state  of  feeling  during  these  student  years 
is  not  a  little  remarkable  for  its  intensity  and 
reverential  awe.  He  was  to  be,  not  an  orator,  not  a 
logician,  not  a  leader  in  Church  Courts,  but  an 
ambassador  for  Christ.  He  knew  it ;  and  he  acted 
under  the  impression  of  coming  responsibilities.  The 
duties  before  him  were  grave  and  solemn, — not 
worldly,  but  unworldly ;  and  they  threw  their  deep 
(not  dark)  shadow  over  him  ;  at  times,  perhaps,  lead- 
ing him  to  be  severe  upon  those  who  came  short  of 
his  standard.  He  felt  called  to  a  higher  kind  of  Christ- 
ianity than  many  around  him  seemed  to  realise  :  and 
he  could  not  but  be  in-  earnest.  Anything  short  of 
this  would  belie  his  profession,  and  cast  a  doubt  upon 
his  sincerity.  It  was  the  future  minister  of  Christ 
that  was  now  being  moulded.  His  future  usefulness, 
in  whatever  place   he   might  be  called  to   labour, 


128        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

would  depend  very  much  upon  his  earlier  religious 
progress : — 

"  3rcZ  June,  1875,  steamship  Hihernia  (London  to 
Dundee). — I   have  had  a  long  time  of  prayer  and 
thought  in  my  cabin  this  morning.      I  was  praying 
for  light.     I  have  so  great  a  desire  to  see  everything 
clearly,   to   have  God's  truth  in  Christ,  in  its  bare 
aspects  and  exact  meaning  made  mine.      I  had  such 
a  lesson   in  1    Cor.  i.   about  the    "wisdom   of  the 
world."     I  saw  how  little  could  my  intellect  compre- 
hend God's  plan  and  truth.     Again  and  again  does 
the  devil  come  back  with  his  cavils,   and   seek  to 
remove  me  from  my  rest.    I  knoiu  he  cannot  do  that. 
But,  oh  !  to  know  even  more  than  that ;  and  I  think  I 
got  it  in  '  Christ,  the  Power  of  God  and  the  Wisdom 
of  God,' — the  Power^  because  able  and  willing  to  save; 
the  Wisdom,  as  one  who  knows  best  all  that  is  good 
for  me,  and  who  will  teach  me  the  way  of  truth.      I 
know  that  I  have  delihersitelj  chosen  the  way  of  truth, 
and  I  will  rest  in  this  choice ;  and  yet  I  cannot  help 
thinking  that  for  me — it  may  not  be  necessary  for  all 
— there  is  a  further  teaching,  and  my  whole  nature, 
heart,  and  soul,  and  mind,  yearns  to  know  the  why  of 
God's  proceedings.     I  do  pray  that  if  this  is  God's 
will  He  may  teach  me  it ;   if  not,  banish  it  utterly. 
For  instance,  gladly,  knowingly,  do  I  take  refuge  in 
Christ  as  my  Saviour,  yet  this  morning,  when  the 


Student's  Life  in  Edinbtcrgh.  129 

devil  said,  and  my  own  heart  took  up  the  doubt,  '  How 
can  you  see  the  use  of  the  blood  to  cleanse  ? '  I  just 
prayed,  '  Lord,  by  Thy  blood  shed  for  sin,  show  me 
the  use  of  the  blood  and  its  power  to  take  away  this 
doubt, — use  as  an  antidote  the  very  thing  I  have  doubt 
about.'  And  what  a  comforting  glimpse  I  had,  in  the 
words  that  came  to  me  :  '  The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ, 
His  Son,  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin.'  I  am  content 
to  rest  in  that  alone  until  God  shows  me  more,  but  I 
pray  with  my  whole  heart  against  the  return  of  these 
doubts.  I  fear  them, — I  hate  them, — T  know  that 
they  are  sin ;  but  surely  there  is  something  else  than 
resting  in  a  mere  glimpse.  I  wish  to  see  the  fair 
sphere  of  Christ's  truth  in  its  perfect  completeness, 
so  satisfying,  so  excluding  everything  else,  that  there 
shall  not  be  room  in  my  heart,  nor  power  in  the 
devil's  suggestions  to  make  me  doubt. 

"  I  may  rest  upon  what  God  has  taught ;  but,  when 
these  doubts  prevail,  I  cannot  use  what  I  rest  upon 
as  a  weapon  to  defend  and  attack  for  Christ  in  behalf 
of  other  men. 

"  Did  you  ever  watch  a  sunrise  and  see  the  time 
before  the  sun's  appearance  ?  I  have  watched  the 
landscape  dim  and  undefined,  and  mingled  together, 
and  then  seen  the  sun  rise  and  touch  with  light  so 
gentle  and  so  lovely  the  ridges  of  the  hills,  and  the 
prominent  points  of  the  whole  scene.    This  is  like  the 


130        Memoir  of  Rev,  G.  T.  Dodds, 

rising  of  Christ  the  Light  upon  His  great  salvation, 
which  we  have  been  contemplating  in  the  dark. 
Then  all  the  prominent  truths  are  made  clear, — His 
life,  His  death,  His  ascension.  His  present  intercession. 
But  none  tlie  less  does  His  light  penetrate  the  valleys 
and  the  dark  recesses  where  night  still  lingers ;  and 
is  it  not  true  that  in  the  valleys  grow  the  fairest 
flowers,  and  flow  the  freshest  and  coolest  waters  ?  All 
may  not  care  to  go  down  there, — they  may  like  the 
mountain-top,  or  the  sunny  plains  of  the  hill-side,  and 
others  may  be  content  to  take  the  water,  and  look  at 
the  flowers  that  have  been  brought  up  with  toil  and 
anxious  search  by  those  who  have  descended.  Now 
I  know  the  facts  of  Christ's  life  and  death  and  ascen- 
sion to  be  mine,  but  I  still  think,  from  all  God's  dealings 
with  me,  and  from  my  own  mental  constitution,  that 
God's  plan  in  letting  me  still  seek  for  further  light  is 
that  He  may  lead  me  in  His  own  way  into  these 
valleys,  that  thence  I  may  look  up  with  still  more 
wondering  love,  having  found  the  greatness  of  the 
depth  of  the  riches  of  the  wisdom  and  knowledge  of 
Christ,  and  say,  '  Thy  righteousness  is  like  the  great 
mountains ;  Thy  judgments  are  a  great  deep.'    I  can  so 

well  understand 's  trouble  about  speculation.    It 

is  necessary  to  some  minds,  but  it  is  none  the  less  true 
that  the  first  duty, — the  duty,  is  to  get  one's  heart 
right  with  God,  to  believe  on  Christ  as  His  Saviour, 


Student's  Life  in  Edinburgh.  131 

and  then,  with  God's  leave,  and  if  with  His  leave, 
with  the  Spirit's  help,  to  search  the  valleys." 

*Jth  June,  1875. — "  I  am  so  thankful  that,  bit  by 
bit,  in  His  own  way,  my  Father  is  putting  out  my 
spiritual  enemies,  and  solving  all  my  perplexities.  If 
only  all  young  men  would  try  this  plan  of  carrying 
each  doubt, — each  perplexity  to  Hhn,  and  leave  it 
there  each  day  until  it  is  taken  away,  how  many  faith- 
ful Christians  should  we  have  instead  of  the  doubting 
and  wavering  ones  ? " 

He  was  now  educating  for  his  special  work,  though 
unconscious  of  it.  He  was  being  taught  the  lessons 
that  would  make  him  strong  to  "  attack  or  defend  " 
when  confronted  with  the  doubters  of  France.  It 
was  in  this  training-school  that  he  learned  what 
I  may  call  missionary  wisdom.  His  skill  in  "  turn- 
ing the  flank"  of  the  Atheist  or  the  Romanist  or 
the  scoffer,  in  after  days,  was  learned  now.  His  own 
mental  exercises  and  spiritual  conflicts  prepared 
him  for  meeting  the  doubter,  not  with  logic  or  argu- 
ment, but  with  the  weapons  with  which  he  himself 
had  fought  his  way  to  truth  and  light.  To  know 
"  the  deep  things  of  God "  was  a  frequent  prayer 
with  him.  Some  of  the  lessons  which  he  was  now 
acquiring  in  various  ways  served  him  afterwards  in 
France,   where   often   the   mind   is   so  ignorant,   so 


132        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


stuffed  with  error,  so  untrained  to  observe  its  own 
workings  or  define  its  own  beliefs,  that  often  he 
used  to  say,  "  I  do  not  see  how  the  Spirit  can  work 
in  a  soul  in  the  midst  of  such  error ;  and  yet  I  see 
that  somehow  or  other  He  does  work." 

21st  September,  1875. — "  I  am  being  led  into  a  new 
region  altogether,  where  one  sees  the  deep  things  of 
God's  salvation.  I  do  pray  that  I  may  be  kept 
humble." 

Writing  from  England  of  one  to  w^hom  a  "  simply 
believed  "  Gospel  had  brought  peace,  he  says  : — 

6th  April,  1875. — "  She  seems  to  have  simply 
believed ;  doubt  never  seems  to  have  troubled  her. 
You  know  those  kind  of  people, — they  are  not  Scotch 
in  their  type  of  character ;  they  are  not  introspec- 
tive. They  believe,  and  stop  there.  They  rest  in 
the  faith,  and  somehow  the  reasons  of  that  faith, 
which,  to  us  Scotch  people,  are  to  be  proved  even 
after  believing,  never  need  solution  to  them.  One 
never  knows  what  these  sort  of  Christians  know  and 
what  they  do  not  know.  The  Church  here  does  so 
little  for  them ;  and  they  merely  seem  to  have  a 
heart  knowledge  of  the  one  great  fact  of  Redemption 
through  Christ,  and  never  to  get  further ;  but  they 
seem  to  hold  all  the  more  tenaciously  to  that  one  thing, 
like  the  limpet  holding  to  the  rock  and  that  alone. 


Sttidenfs  Life  in  Edinbzirgk.         133 

"  I  do  not  think,  however,  that  such  Christians  are 
to  be  desired  in  our  day.  More  knowledge  of  the 
hearings  of  Christianity,  its  living  poiver  to  touch 
and  mould  all  life,  its  reasonableness,  seem  to  be 
needed.  But  I  must  not  begin  to  speak  against  some 
of  God's  people." 

22nd  April,  1875.—"  How  I  do  hate  these  High 
Church  doctrines  that  stand  between  a  man  and 
Christ ;  and  how  I  feel  for  those  High  Church  people 
who  are  under  their  influence." 

19th  April,  1875. — "  We  were  talking  last  night  on 
the  answer  to  prayer  as  a  thing  of  Christian  experi- 
ence. One  who  speaks  thus  is  a  true  Christian, 
and  yet  what  would  I  give  to  know  that  the 
ideas  of  church  power  and  sacramental  grace  were 
less  in  the  way  of  the  grasp  which  one  should  have  on 
the  Gospel  of  Christ !  But  I  learn  a  lesson  this  way 
from  conversing  with  one  who  differs  slightly  from 
me,  that  it  is  by  Faith  a  man  lives  his  Christian  life. 
His  experimental  religion  is  the  real  thing.  God 
accepts  our  faith,  however  little,  however  imperfect, 
and  it  is  there.  We  cannot  tell  the  workings  of  God 
in  the  heart,  even  of  our  most  intimate  friend,  each 
one  is  left  with  God  in  that  matter." 

Qth  August,  1876. — "  I  have  been  learning  many 


1 34        Memoir  of  Rev,  G.  T.  Dodds. 

lessons.  I  have  got  to  see  the  hatefulness  of  sin, 
and  God's  purity,  His  holiness  and  my  defilement ; 
how  terrible  and  vile  is  our  state  of  enmity,  and  our 
unbelief  how  strong  and  yet  how  unjust.  And  I 
have  been  shown  wonderfully  clearly  what  "mercy  is. 
In  studying  the  publican's  prayer,  I  have  had  such 
glimpses  of  the  meaning  of  "mercy,  of  how  suitable  it 
is  to  man,  how  needful.  I  have  felt  what  a  glad 
sound  this  word  mercy  has,  how  it  rejoices  the  weary 
heart,  how,  when  every  other  plea  fails  this  stands 
secure  and  undiminished.  Our  sanctification  is  His 
will.  His  tuill, — so  strong  a  will, — makes  us  strong. 
His  will,  so  Divine,  so  wise,  so  constraining,  how 
comforting  that  it  is  His,  and  that  it  i^for  us!" 

Keferring  to  a  case  that  had  been  brought  under 
his  notice,  he  thus  writes : — 

1st  February,  1875. — "My  whole  soul  goes  out  in 
deepest  sympathy  and  anxiety  for  such  a  man.  .  .  . 
I  know  the  modern  ideas  of  the  school  that  wishes 
to  make  religion  a  cultured  and  sesthetical  thing, — a 
revival,  as  it  were,  of  the  Platonic  doctrine  of  the  Har- 
mony of  all  the  faculties  of  man.  There  is  no  doubt 
that  refined  natures  and  sensitive  minds  cannot  help 
striving  after  that;  a  vain  pursuit  it  seems  to  me,  as 
long  as  they  hegin  with  afiirming  culture  and  its 
necessity,  forgetting  that  there  is  one  thing  needful, 


Student's  Life  in  Edinburgh.  135 

which  is  lacking  to  all  such  attempts,  which  are 
wholly  human  in  their  origin,  while  Religion  is  a 
Divine  (and  yet  human)  thing — and  must  exist  as 
a  Divine  thing — a  thing  per  se — like  to  which 
there  is  nothing  else;  and  therefore,  because  of  its 
unlikeness,  it  is  to  be  treated  from  the  very  outset  as 
a  subject  of  study  which  is  not  subject  to  the  same 
canons  and  tests  as  others. 

"  I  had  a  time  of  like  ideas  too  ;  only,  that  I  never 
was  adrift  from  my  early  beliefs.  It  is  difficult  to 
get  words  to  describe  such  a  state  of  mind,  for  the 
confusion  between  culture  and  religion  is  so  great, 
that  that  of  itself  prevents  the  correct  description. 
I  know  that  I  clung  with  all  the  more  passionate 
earnestness  to  the  truths  I  had  been  taught  when 
young,  and  only  thought  of  making  the  one  a  help 
to  the  other.  Evangelical  truths  had  got  so  in- 
grained  in  my  mind  that  I  hated  the  very  thought 
of  dispensing  with  them.  It  came  about  with  me 
from  reading  Ruskin  ;  I  used  to  read  nothing  else,  I 
went  through  his  '  Modern  Painters/  his  *  Stones 
of  Venice,'  his  'Seven  Lamps,'  and  all  his  minor 
works.  The  beauty  and  depth  of  his  thoughts 
entranced  me;  and  I  never  dreamt  that  he  was  not 
a  Christian,  and  a  religious  one.  I  do  not  know 
very  well  just  what  he  believes ;  but  I  can  see  now, 
most  clearly,  that  one  might  read  and  admire  and 


136        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

assiTYiilate  all  his  teaching,  and  the  heart  be  as 
sinful  as  ever, — as  offensive  to  God  in  its  thoughts 
and  ways,  as  if  it  had  been  coarse  and  impure  and 
positively  wicked,  and  consciously  doing  the  work 
of  the  Evil  One.  I  find  that  the  reading  of  such 
works,  and  the  encouragement  of  such  tendencies, 
in  all  ages,  has  not  prevented  sin ;  and  herein  lies 
the  difference  between  Culture  and  Religion,  that 
the  first  has  for  its  object  to  cultivate  "  culture  "  and 
delicacy  of  perception;  but  that  the  Bible, — the  hand- 
book of  Religion, — has  for  its  object  to  convince  of 
sin  as  the  first  and  most  necessary  thing,  and  that  to 
the  critical  and  suspicious  attitude  of  a  man  of  culture 
it  opposes  the  necessity  of  humility  and  obedience,  and 
Faith  as  the  starting  point  of  all  (let  us  use  the 
culturist's  word),  harmony  of  our  nature.  Culture 
comes  without  any  authoritative  demand ;  does  not 
come  as  a  Judge,  or  Lord,  or  Convicter ;  does  not  say 
that  we  are  rebels  against  its  rule,  or  that  we  hate  it, 
or  that  we  need  a  Mediator  to  help  us  to  the  attain- 
ment of  the  restoration  of  our  nature  ;  but  the  Bible 
comes  bearing  and  assuming  both  authority  of 
position  and  character,  commanding  because  of  its 
power,  persuading  because  of  its  character;  it 
addresses  us  as  rebels,  as  haters  of  its  words,  as 
alienated,  except  we  accept  its  appointed  means  of 
reconciliation.     And  it  comes,  not  granting  liberty  to 


Student's  Life  in  Ecihibiu^gh.         137 

us  to  construct  our  system  and  then  to  test  it  by  our 
construction,  but,  saying  that  it  is  the  tuIq  of  morals 
and  religion.  I  wonder  how  many  men,  who  have 
set  out  to  construct  a  system,  even  from  the  smallest 
assumption,  found  that  it  was  only  stubble  and 
rottenness,  when  they  were  convinced  of  their  lost 
estate  and  their  absolute  need  of  a  Redeemer.  I  do 
not  mean  to  say  that  men  do  not  learn  from  their 
former  experience ;  that  cannot  but  be,  because  as 
Dr.  Duncan  says,  'There  is  no  whole  lie  but  the 
sceptic's,  and  even  that  is  not  wholly  a  lie ; '  and  so 
in  culture  (for  man  cannot  live  without  truth),  there 
is  an  element  of  truth  which  remains  and  may 
be  useful  afterwards,  but  then  only  as  reconciled 
through  the  presence  of  religion  and  its  acknowledged 
supremacy.  It  is  not  religion  which  is  an  enemy  of 
culture,  it  is  culture  and  aesthetics  which  are 
enemies  of  and  neutral  to  religion.  Religion  is 
never  neutral,  and  its  very  non-neutrality  makes  it 
impossible  that  even  after  all,  culture  can  be  neutral 
very  long. 

"  I  wish  I  could  see to  talk  with  him  on  the 

relations  of  Faith,  and  Reason,  and  Truth.  I  am  fond 
of  putting  the  matter  this  way. 

"  Faith  is  always  reasonable ;  it  contains  all  that  is 
reasonable.  But  Reason  is  often  unfaithful ;  it  has 
lost  the  very  first  principle   of  its  nature,  that  is 


138        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


Truth ;  and  the  very  proneness  or  habit  of  Reason 
to  be  false  in  its  processes — (1)  Is  a  direct  proof 
that  man  cannot  construct  a  system  out  of  the  Bible 
or  any  other  source ;  (2)  that  for  that  very  reason  he 
needs  a  system  constructed  for  him,  and  which  to  be 
acceptable  must  be  Divine,  and  which  to  be  useful 
must  be  accepted  as  Divine. 

"The  account  of  man's  fall  is  a  proof  of  this. 
Adam's  reason  was  faithful  to  God,  and  had  for  its 
first  principle,  Truth.  The  devil,  a  liar  from  the 
beginning,  gained  his  point  by  falsifying  Reason  ;  he 
assaulted  it  by  destroying  its  foundation  on  Truth. 
Reason's  duty  was  to  believe,  but  he  taught  it  to 
suspect  God's  goodness,  and  the  first  step  was  a  fall, 
and  that  fall  was  brought  about  by  man  trying  to 
construct  a  system  for  himself;  and  that  system,  even 
at  that  early  time,  was  not  so  very  unlike  the  system 
of  the  culturist  of  the  present  day.  Culture  keeps  a 
man  from  coming  near  to  God;  it  is  hard  but 
beautiful  enamel  put  over  the  heart  to  prevent  it 
softening  to  the  touch  of  God. 

"  No  man  can  construct  a  system,  even  on  partial 
truth ;  it  never  has  been  done  and  never  will.  The 
first  duty  of  every  man  is  to  inquire,  how  am  I  what 
I  am  ;  how  am  I  to  account  for  my  yearnings  for 
perfection  and  holiness,  and  how  am  I  to  account  for 
my  inability  to  reach  these ;  and  above  all,  how  am 


Sttidenfs  Life  iii  Edinburgh.  139 

I  to  account  for  the  strange  fact  of  experience,  that 
when  I  would  do  good  evil  is  present  within  me. 
No  man  can  get  rid  of  this,  and  no  man  can  get  rid 
of  the  other  question  of  a  hereafter.  These  are 
questions  only  to  be  settled  in  one  way — before  God 
in  prayer.  Doubt  is  dishonest  when  it  cannot  take 
its  troubles  to  God ;  the  promise  is  sure  that  if  we 
come  we  shall  not  be  sent  away  empty.  All  our 
questionings  are  to  be  solved  by  God,  and  I 
quite  understand,  nay  I  believe,  that  a  man  would 
do  right  if  he  left  off  critical  questions,  such  as 
alleged  discrepancies  in  the  Gospels,  and  even  such  a 
question  as  the  Atonement,  and  go  with  them 
unsettled  to  God's  Throne,  a  Throne  of  Grace ;  and 
never  cease  to  pray  until  they  were  settled  and  the 
way  shown.  And  what  a  way !  Not  I  shoiu  the 
way,  but  '  I  am  the  Way,  the  Truth,  and  the  Life.' " 

He  looked  forward  with  fear  to  his  ministerial 
work;  conscious  of  unfitness  for  so  great  a  service 
as  "the  ministry  of  the  reconciliation."  He  had 
high  thoughts  of  what  a  minister  of  Christ  should  be, 
and  of  what  his  preaching  should  be.  The  plain, 
direct  delivery  of  the  message  of  love  was  what 
he  aimed  at.  To  wreathe  the  sword  of  the  Spirit  with 
flowers,  whether  intellectual  or  oratorical,  was  only 
to  blunt  its  edge.     Not  the  wisdom  of  this  world; 


140        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds. 

not  florid  declamation ;  not  artificial  verbiage  mak- 
ing the  hearers  wonder,  but  hiding  the  cross  of 
Christ ;  not  these  did  he  seek.  He  was  resolved  to 
go  straight  to  the  mark,  for  he  knew  that  his  message 
was  to  tell  for  eternity  upon  immortal  souls.  The 
best  of  human  philosophy  was  not  to  be  compared 
with  "the  foolishness  of  preaching."  It  might 
secure  fame  to  the  preacher  here,  and  render  him 
noted  for  his  talents;  but  it  would  not  add  to  the 
weight  of  his  crown,  nor  win  back  the  wanderer  to 
the  fold.  What  a  mistake  some  of  our  young  men 
are  making  just  now  in  their  estimate  of  the  true 
nature  and  object  of  the  ministry !  Truly  said 
Kichard  Hooker,  "  be  careful  to  build  and  edify  first 
yourselves  and  then  your  flocks  in  this  most  holy 
faith.  He  that  would  set  on  fire  the  heart  of  other 
men  with  the  love  of  Christ,  must  himself  burn  with 
love." 

"  What  a  world,"  he  remarked,  "  one  human  soul 
has  opened  up  to  my  view."  Keferring  to  some 
interviews  he  had  with  the  spiritually  anxious,  he 
says  :  "  It  makes  preaching  a  different  thing  to  me 
altogether,  and  opens  up  to  me  so  much  that  was 
sealed  before."  He  used,  even  to  the  last,  to  lament 
his  want  of  experience  ;  but  it  was  remarkable  how 
his  words  went  to  the  heart  of  some  in  the  depths  of 
sorrow,  sorrow  such  as  he  had  never  passed  through 


St7ide7ifs  Life  in  Edinburgh.  141 

himself.  "  I  have  often  wondered,"  says  one,  "  how- 
he  learned  that  deep  sympathy.  I  believe  it  came 
from  his  habit  of  putting  himself  in  the  hand  of  the 
Spirit  for  every  word ;  and  from  his  way  of  learning 
something  from  every  little  circumstance."  His  was 
no  circuitous  or  ambiguous  gospel.  Hence  the 
poorest  understood  him,  and  yet  none  were  offended. 
Thus,  he  writes  of  himself: — 

^th  March,  1875. — "  You  little  know  how  unable 
I  feel,  owing  to  my  habits  of  study,  to  speak  of  the 
Gospel  offer  clearly,  and  to  men's  hearts.  I  tremble  to 
come  out  next  year,  if  I  have  not  had  some  experi- 
ence of  human  nature, — otherwise  than  in  books.  We 
had  two  inquirers  after  the  Sunday-evening  meeting 
(Grange  Church),  and  I  spoke  to  them  both.  It  was 
the  first  time  I  ever  spoke  to  inquirers  at  a  meeting, 
and  I  felt  very  unfit,  but  I  think  God  blessed  my 
words  about  trusting  to  Christ,  not  feelings,  as  I  had 
come  through  all  that  myself" 

10th  June,  1875. — "In  some  respects  preaching 
does  not  look  so  hard.  I  do  like  it,  in  spite  of  all 
my  nervousness  and  my  fear  of  going  into  a  pulpit. 
But  the  brain- work  of  writing  two  sermons  a-week  is 
a  thing  I  never  think  of  if  I  cau  help  it.  It  is  true 
that  my  mental  strength  has  come  back  to  a  degree 
I  never  expected,  and  that  the  blessed  experiences 


142        Memoir  of  Rev,  G.  T.  Dodds. 

I  have  been  going  through  all  furnish  groundwork 
for  preaching,  and  helping  people  on  the  right  way. 
But  as  one's  mind  grows,  the  ideal  grows  also,  and 
the  nearer  one  comes  to  the  real  work,  the  more 
does  it  require  all  your  ideal  to  realise  it.  I  am 
sure  I  do  take  courage  again  and  again  from  all 
the  grace  that  has  been  given  to  me,  so  undeserving 
of  it." 

^nd  September,  1875. — "I  have  not  known  a 
night's  sleep  for  more  than  a  week  now  (from 
neuralgia),  but  it  has  been  for  my  good.  I  spoke  to 
the  people  at  the  prayer  meeting  last  night  on 
'Come  unto  Me  all  ye  that  labour,'  &c.,  and,  I  think, 
I  never  spoke  so  practically  before,  because  I  felt 
that  this  gift  of  rest  was  so  true,  even  in  affliction 
and  trouble,  and  little  vexations  like  mine.  I  showed 
them  that  the  rest  was  not  rest  from  work,  but  in 
work, — not  from  trouble,  but  in  trouble.  These 
three  weeks  I  have  lost  time  terribly.  I  am  not 
strong,  I  never  felt  so  thoroughly  tired ;  but  I  can 
thank  Him  for  it,  and  see  a  Father's  hand  in  it  all." 

2\st  September,  1875. — "If  older  Christians  would 
only  have  a  little  patience  with  student-preachers, 
who  have  never  had  any  opportunity  to  see  the  Spirit 
working  in  men's  hearts,  and  by  their  words ;  and  so 
cannot  preach  experimentally  or  to  suit  men's  char- 


Stttdeiifs  Life  in  Edinburgh.  143 

acters,  inasmuch  as  they  have  never  studied  them 
except  at  second-hand  !  I  have  been  told  to  preach 
experimentally,  when  the  direction  had  no  more 
meaning  to  me  than  a  language  I  did  not  understand. 
I  am  glad  we  are  in  God's  hands  to  teach  us  these 
things  Himself,  and  in  His  time  and  way ;  it  is  more 
precious  and  better,  though  I  wish  to  learn  by  all 
the  help  He  may  send.  Indeed,  I  feel  all  the  time 
how  deficient  my  preaching  is, — how  I  lack  that 
'personal  acquaintance  with  human  hearts  which 
utilises  what .  you  may  have  thought  over,  and 
reasoned  out  by  long  processes,  which  in  fact  fertilises 
the  abstract  conceptions  and  makes  them  practical." 

2Qth  July,  1875. — "I  have  felt  so  disheartened  in 
my  visiting,  that  day  after  day  I  am  tempted  to  fly 
from  the  door  after  I  have  rung  the  bell.  I  wish 
I  were  a  little  bolder,  a  little  readier  to  speak  for 
Christ.  I  am  such  a  moral  coward  in  attacking 
people,  that  I  sometimes  feel  as  if  the  feeling  would 
never  go  away." 

I  occupy  the  rest  of  this  chapter  with  some  frag- 
ments of  miscellaneous  letters,  written  about  this 
time.  They  bring  out  his  intense  love  of  nature  and 
his  observant  eye  : — 

Lesnewth,  Devonshire,  April  and  May,  1875. 
— "  I've  seen  such  an  affecting  sight  while  fishing. 


144        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 

A  sheep  had  tried  to  cross  the  brook,  and  got 
entangled  in  the  thorns,  and  fallen ;  and,  unable  to 
rise  or  move,  had  been  drowned.  And  its  lamb  was 
sitting,  or  rather  lying,  there  peacefully  beside  its 
dead  mother,  the  very  picture  of  patient  waiting. 
It  was  both  beautiful  and  sad.  This  is  a  very  pri- 
mitive country,  so  wild  and  open,  the  people  simple 
and  quiet. 

"  The  lanes  here  are  stuffed  with  Adiantum 
nigrum  (maiden  hair), — a  lovely  green  it  has  just 
now, — and  Trichomanes.  The  earth  is  raised  up 
high,  and  faced  with  stones  laid  thus — /^ /^ /^ ;  and 
one  wall  of  this  kind  had  a  Trichomanes  in  every 
chink.  The  whole  country  is  coloured  just  now 
with  yellow  gorse,  and  ivy  trailing  down  among  it." 

Llanteglos,  near  Camelford. — "  How  I  do  love 
these  grey  old  buildings,  so  quiet  and  venerable, 
with  their  mossy  churchyards  and  crumbling  grave- 
stones. There  was  in  the  windows  some  very  old 
stained  glass,  and  part  of  the  church  was  of  Nor- 
man architecture,  the  arch  over  the  transept  being 
peculiarly  so.  I  was  above  all  things  delighted 
with  three  old  crosses,  some  found  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood and  taken  care  of  They  are  of  granite, 
and  venerable  with  age, — two  of  them  more  than  a 
thousand    years   old.      One   had   an   inscription   in 


Shcdenfs  Life  in  Edinburgh.  145 

Saxon,  but  very  much  obscured,  though,  it  seems,  it 
has  been  made  out.  I  had  not  time  to  follow  out 
my  propensity  to  read  the  letters. 

"  I  looked  for  ferns,  and  found  ever  so  many  old 
friends.  I  know  nothing  more  curious  and  yet  more 
beautiful  than  the  unfolding  of  their  curled  scaly 
fronds.  I  came  upon  the  Scented-fern,  the  Mount- 
ain Buckler,  and  then,  to  my  great  delight,  I  found 
the  Hay-scented  fern.  I  had  often  seen  it,  and 
bought  it,  and  grown  it  at  home,  but  never  found 
it  before.  I  brought  away  the  plants.  They  are  so 
small  that  I  shall  send  them  home." 

\%ik  July,  1875.  — To  his  Brother. —  "  Philip 
enclosed  a  specimen  of  Drosera  rotundifolia,  or 
'  Sundew.'  I  do  not  know  if  you  ever  saw  it. 
I  found  it  at  St.  Mary's, — a  curious  marsh  plant,  with 
tentacles  on  its  leaves,  tipped  with  a  viscid  secretion, 
so  sticky  that  if  an  unlucky  fly  alights  on  them  it  is 
taken  captive.  The  plant  feeds  on  them  ;  it  assimi- 
lates the  nitrogen  in  the  animals  it  catches,  and 
leaves  them  a  thin  shell,  which  is  blown  away,  and 
then  it  is  ready  for  another  repast.  As  many  as 
260  glands  have  been  counted  on  their  tentacles,  and 
they  have  been  known  to  catch  a  big  gadfly.  They 
kill  them  generally  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour.  It  is  a 
curious  half- animal,  half-plant." 


146        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

2STd  May,  1875.— To  his  Brother.—"  I  have  kept 
an  eye  open  for  ferns  always,  and  was  so  glad  to  find 
the  Ceterach.  It  grew  on  high  walls,  and  I  had  to 
stop  the  man  who  was  driving  to  get  them.  I  saw 
great  quantities  of  the  Soft  Shield,  both  near  Tintem 
and  Cardiff.  I  put  in  a  plant,  but  the  rest  were  so 
large  it  was  useless  to  take  them.  I  wish  you  saw 
some  of  the  banks  fringed  with  those  Soft  Shields, 
and  huge  clumps  of  Hart's-tongue  among  the  ivy.  It 
is  a  lovely  picture." 

LocHEE,  dth  Ajpril,  1875. — "  It  is  just  the  same 
dear  old  place.  My  ferns  are  all  springing  in  the  green- 
house. There  is  nothing  so  lovely  as  the  little  green 
fronds  slowly  unfolding  their  rusty-looking  coils." 

2Wi  April,  1875. — "  Froude's  view  of  free-will  is 
the  only  one  that  cleared  up  to  me  the  controversy. 
Ought  would  never  exist  in  our  language  did  not  the 
idea  of  responsibility  and  duty  pre-exist,  and  make 
a  part,  and  a  necessary  part,  of  our  nature.  The  con- 
sciousness of  being  cd)le  to  choose,  or  of  power,  is  not 
the  deciding  point ;  for,  as  has  been  well  shown,  the 
power  to  choose  may  be  itself  the  determining  ruling 
motive ;  but  no  man  can  say  so  of  ought,  for  it  itself 
is  the  direct  outcome  of  consciousness,  and  there  is 
nothing  anterior  to  it." 

His  knowledge  of  French,  before  s^oinof  to  Paris, 
was    chiefly    from    books ;     and    perhaps    at    that 


Studeiiis  Life  in  Edmburgh.  147 

time  his  French  reading  had  not  been  so  extensive 
as  his  German.  Yet  he  had  feasted  on  Pascal  and 
Vinet,  for  whom  he  had  a  special  admiration.  The 
writings  of  Godet  and  Bersier  were  very  familiar  to 
him,  with  many  others. 

After  going  to  Paris,  he  read  constantly  all  the 
best  French  theological  literature,  and  when  prepar- 
ing a  discourse  on  any  subject,  would  read  as  many 
as  three  or  four  authors  on  the  subject, — not  so  much 
for  ideas  as  for  words.  He  said  that  thus  his  ear 
caught  the  fitting  expression  for  his  thoughts,  and 
that ,  he  learned  to  avoid  the  English  turn,  which  is 
apt  to  cling  to  one  long  after  grammatical  correct- 
ness is  attained.  But  to  the  end  Vinet  held  a  first 
place,  though  he  dissented  from  his  view  of  faith 
and  its  office  in  justification.  "  There  is  no  French 
author  I  admire  so  much,  next  to  Pascal.  I  think  no 
man  ever  knew  so  well  the  way  to  show  that  Christ- 
ianity was  truly  a  system  that  embraced  all  that  the 
reasoning  and  speculating  faculties  of  man's  mind 
could  have  craved  the  satisfaction  of.  He  saw  so 
clearly  that  all  history,  sacred  and  profane,  are  parts 
of  God's  purpose  to  be  fulfilled  alone  in  Christ's  life 
and  death.  He  saw  so  clearly  the  need  of  redemp- 
tion, and  how  redemption  had  no  satisfying,  real 
meaning  except  in  the  evangelical  sense  of  the  atone- 
ment." 


1 48        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

Atonement  to  him  had  no  significance  or  reality 
apart  from  "  substitution."  I  remember  in  one  of 
our  last  conversations,  when  walking  through  one  of 
the  avenues  of  Auteuil,  how  fully  he  spoke  out  his 
appreciation  of  this  truth.  We  took  up  the  different 
words  of  the  New  Testament,  such  as  atonement, 
propitiation,  satisfaction,  sin-bearing,  reconciliation, 
and  the  like.  He  was  then  sketching  out  a  programme 
for  some  class  or  meeting:  or  series  of  tracts,  and  the 
idea  filled  his  mind  of  classifying  the  great  truths  of 
the  Gospel  to  the  people  under  some  such  headings. 

There  was  no  Gospel  to  him  apart  from  the  pro- 
23itiation  of  the  Cross  ;  and  he  saw  that,  dark  as  the 
French  mind  was  upon  these  points,  the  great  truths 
which  these  words  enshrined  were  just  those  that 
were  given  him  to  preach  to  the  people  among  whom 
he  had  come  to  labour.  The  reception  of  these  was 
everlasting  life,  whether  in  Scotland  or  France.  As 
a  student  he  saw  this  ;  and  as  a  minister  of  the 
Gospel  in  Paris  he  realised  it  more  and  more.  All 
real  success  was  to  turn  on  the  faithfulness  and  fulness 
with  which  he  preached  a  Gospel  which  embodied 
these  ;  and  he  was,  in  these  student  years,  learning 
"  how  to  preach"  in  the  earnest  days  to  come,  and  what 
the  Gospel  entrusted  to  his  hands  really  was. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

MISSIONARY  VIEWS — INQUIRIES  AS  TO  MISSION-FIELDS 
— REFUSAL  OF  A  HOME-FIELD — RESOLUTION  TO 
SETTLE  IN  PARIS. 

,ROM  his  childhood,  as  we  have  noticed,  he  had 
a  missionary  life  in  view  ;  and  no  doubt 
his  mother's  teaching  had  borne  fruit.  Such 
feelings  spring  up  in  various  ways  in  the  members 
of  Christian  families  at  a  very  early  age.  Some- 
times it  is  a  family  conversation  that  sets  their 
curiosity  on  edge  ;  sometimes  it  is  a  public  address 
which  they  happen  to  hear ;  sometimes  it  is  a  book 
of  missionary  work  ;  sometimes  it  is  the  example  of 
an  acquaintance,  older  than  themselves,  setting  out 
on  the  noble  enterprise;  sometimes  it  seems  to  be 
the  direct  but  unconscious  stirrings  of  the  Divine 
Spirit ;  and  sometimes  it  comes  in  a  sort  of  heredi- 
tary way  through  fathers  or  grandfathers,  who  have 
trodden    the    missionary   path   before   and   left    an 

example  of  self-sacrifice  to  their  children's  children. 

149 


150        Memow  of  Rev.  G,  T.  Dodds. 

I  remember  one,  who  went  to  be  with  Christ  some 
thirty  years  ago,  his  missionary  longings  all  unful- 
filled, and  himself  spared  only  to  do  a  little  work  at 
home.  He  was  in  humble  life,  and  had  been  brought 
to  know  the  Son  of  God  while  yet  a  mere  youth, 
owing  his  piety  to  the  teaching  of  a  holy  mother.  A 
companion,  somewhat  older  than  himself,  had  been 
roused  to  yearn  over  foreign  heathendom  by  reports 
of  missionary  societies,  and  had  gone  forth  in  the 
prime  of  his  manhood  to  the  South  Sea  Islands.  His 
public  statements  and  private  letters  relating  the 
wonderful  success  which  had  followed  his  labours  set 
his  friend's  soul  on  fire,  and  he  prepared  to  follow. 
The  islands  of  the  Southern  hemisphere, — these  were 
continually  in  his  thoughts  by  day,  and  in  his  dreams 
by  night !  An  island  for  himself  he  must  have  ;  an 
island  which  should  owe  all  to  him ;  of  which  he 
should  be  spiritual  king  and  father.  Often  did  he 
pray  that  such  an  island  might  be  given  him,  and 
he  talked  about  it  as  if  it  were  already  his.  That 
fair  Southern  island,  how  it  brightened  to  his  fancy  I 
How  his  eye  glistened  as  he  spoke  of  it.  But  he 
never  reached  it.  He  was  cut  off  when  his  desires 
seemed  on  the  point  of  being  fulfilled,  and  the 
"  island  of  the  blest "  was  just  coming  into  view.  He 
died  at  home,  and  lies  buried,  not  ui^der  the  palm 
or  the  plantain  of  a  Southern  sun,  but  in  a  Scottish 


Missionary  Viezus.  1 5 1 


churchyard.  For  years  he  had  prayed  for  these  far- 
off  islands,  which  he  was  not  destined  to  see.  But 
his  prayers  have  not  gone  up  in  vain. 

I  give  here  the  following  statement  regarding  Mr. 
Dodds'  early  longings  : — 

"  From  infancy,  we  may  say,  he  desired  to  be  a  missionary. 
When  six  years  old  his  mother  used  to  find  him  crying  in  his 
bed,  and  on  asking  the  reason,  he  would  say,  '  I'm  afraid  I'll 
never  be  good  enough  to  be  a  missionary.' 

"  Perhaps  the  family  traditions  of  that  mother,  now  in  glory, 
may  have  had  much  to  do  with  this  early  desire.  Her  stories  were 
all  of  Eussia,  the  Circassians,  and  Astrakan,  where  her  parents 
laboured  for  years  at  what  seemed  an  almost  fruitless  task.  A 
few  converts  did  reward  their  labours,  but  each,  as  soon  as  his 
profession  was  made  known,  was  drafted  away  by  Government  to 
some  distant  part  of  the  country,  and  never  heard  of  more.  Mr. 
Dickson  translated  the  Bible  into  Tartar- Turkish.  His  whole 
family  had  the  gift  of  learning  languages  (talked  in  Turkish, 
Tartar,  Eussian),  which  descended  on  his  grandson.  At  last,  after 
enduring  many  hardships  and  going  through  much  sorrow,  the 
missionaries  were  expelled  from  the  country,  and  the  Dicksons 
returned  to  Scotland  in  poverty  and  broken  health.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dickson  died  within  a  few  weeks  of  each  other,  leaving  a 
family  of  young  daughters  unprovided  for.  To  the  eyes  of 
men  this  was  '  a  failure  ; '  just  as  even  to  worldly  men,  the 
Paris  Mission  may  appe.ir  'a  success.'  But  how  much  of  this 
success  arose  out  of  that  apparent  failure — eternity  alone  will 
show. 

"His  short  work  in  Paris  was  the  work  of  one  who  had 
'  counted  the  cost '  whatever  it  might  be.  Its  foundations  were  laid 
in  those  depths  of  conflict  and  prayer  which  few  knew.  He  was 
prepared  to  encounter  difiiculties,  or  lay  down  life  itself  in  the 
cause  of  Christ.     To  outsiders  it  perhaps  appeared  that  Paris 


1 5  2        Memoir  of  Rev.  G,  T,  Dodds. 

involved  a  lighter  sacrifice  than  India  and  China  would  have 
done,  as  if  he  might  have  worked  there  a  time,  and  withdrawn 
when  weary ;  but  to  himself  it  never  appeared  less  than  his 
whole  lifework,  for  which  everything  else  must  be  given  up  if 
need  be.  '  The  call  is,  Go,'  he  said,  '  and  &o  few  go.'  So  few  go 
was  his  constant  plea.  The  duty  of  going  seemed  clear — the 
where  was  long  doubtful.  His  health  seemed  unfit  for  any 
trying  climate  ;  also  the  posts  ofi"ered  to  him  were  chiefly 
educational.  France  had  never  occurred  to  his  mind  till  the 
autumn  of  1876." 

The  missionary  longing  never  left  him  during  all 
his  subsequent  years  of  study ;  and  it  helped  greatly 
to  mould  his  college  life.  He  studied  languages 
diligently  and  largely,  not  only  to  gratify  an  irresist- 
ible philological  taste,  but  to  fit  himself  for  the 
special  calling  to  which  he  had  from  childhood 
devoted  himself.  He  had  no  fixed  plan  of  work  in 
view,  nor  any  special  thought  as  to  where  his  lot 
might  be  cast.  It  might  be  India  or  Africa,  or  the 
South  Sea  Islands.  He  had  settled  nothing  in  his 
own  mind.  Indeed  an  inward  conflict,  which  partook 
in  some  degree  of  the  desponding,  was  going  on  at 
this  time.  He  was  ready  for  any  opening,  and  shrank 
from  no  hardship.  His  health,  however,  had  to  be 
consulted.  He  was  not  robust,  though  he  enjoyed  on 
the  whole  very  tolerable  health.  Headaches  often 
prostrated  him,  and  asthmatic  and  aguish  affec- 
tions troubled  him.     A  dry,  bracing   climate,  even 


Missionary  Views.  153 

though  cold,  suited  him  best;  and  hence  in  after 
years  he  stood  both  the  heats  and  colds  of  Paris, 
because  they  were  both  dry ;  while  the  moist  air  of 
Lyons,  where  he  was  for  seven  weeks,  nearly  knocked 
him  up.  The  banks  of  the  Rhone  were  not  so 
salubrious  to  him  as  those  of  the  Seine. 

I  had  better  introduce  here  the  following  letters 
relative  to  his  missionary  views  and  mental  struggles. 
The  first  seems  to  be  written  early  in  his  course  of 
study,  to  his  parents,  but  is  undated  : — 

"  I  have  been  suflFering  much  from  mental  despondency  and 
depression.  Perhaps  the  reason  of  these  attacks  is  that  my 
studies  are  all  alone,  and  as  I  have  been  reading  in  some  of  the 
deepest  mysteries  of  the  Christian  faith,  without  any  one  to  speak 
to,  the  self-introspection  becomes  morbid  and  hurtful.  I  have 
not  been  myself  at  all  for  the  last  few  weeks.  I  often  think  over 
the  future  of  my  life  and  my  calling  as  a  Christian  minister,  and 
if  anything  is  necessary  in  the  present  day,  it  is  a  thorough 
realisation  of  a  personal  union  with  Christ,  for  I  become  more 
and  more  convinced  that  that  alone  can  give  any  one  strength 
to  combat  the  endless  errors  and  wretchedness  of  our  day  ;  and 
I  tremble  to  go  out  with  such  educated  unbelief  and  insidious 
infidelity  abroad.*  I  suppose  that  it  is  the  study  of  these  errors, 
and  the  thought  of  having  to  cope  with  them,  that  weighs  upon 
my  mind,  till  it  is  almost  unbearable.      I  might  say  to  myself, 


*  The  "educated  unbelief  and  insidious  infidelity"  which  he 
dreaded  were  "putting  forth  their  feelers"  in  the  denial  of  the 
supernatural,  and  in  the  efforts  to  erase  the  miraculous  from  Scrip- 
ture. To  get  quit  of  God  in  some  way  or  other  he  saw  to  be  the 
aim  of  advanced  thought. 


154         Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 

give  up  these  studies  ;  but  I  know  my  mind  cannot  do  this,  and 
as  a  young  man  must  be  in  this  atmosphere,  must  feel  its 
influence  either  for  good  or  bad,  I  see  that  I  must  not  shirk 
my  duty. 

"  I  think  it  is  time  you  knew  of  a  subject  which  is  always 
before  my  mind,  namely,  that  of  going  out  as  a  missionary. 
I  cannot  say  where,  but  it  is  ever  present  before  me,  and  I  am 
sure  that  God's  hand  is  in  it,  though  there  may  be  a  measure  of 
youthful  enthusiasm  in  it.  I  think  that  I  am  more  suited  for 
this  than  for  staying  at  home.  I  do  not  think  I  am  strong 
enough,  or  have  mind  enough,  to  stand  the  strain  of  two  sermons 
a  week  in  such  an  age  as  this,  and  I  might  devote  my  energy, 
such  as  it  is,  to  the  mission-field.  I  feel  that  that  is  to  be  my 
position,  and  I  know  that  I  shall  have  it  made  plain  to  me.  If 
you  object,  of  course  that  must  be  taken  into  consideration,  but 
I  think  that  even  at  this  stage  you  should  know  my  intention, 
which  is  a  suflBciently  serious  one. 

"  I  hope  that  all  the  trials  and  unspeakable  mental  doubt  and 
anguish  I  have  come  through  will  fit  me  to  be  a  guide  to  others." 

His  home-letters  were  very  numerous ;  and  at  this 
time  very  full  of  his  missionary  longings.  His 
unwillingness  to  give  pain  to  loving  relatives  comes 
out  strongly ;  along  with  his  calm  resolution  to  carry 
out  his  early  longings  for  the  missionary  field. 
Affectionately  and  confidentially  he  consults  his 
father ;  yet  he  does  not  leave  him  in  any  doubt  as  to 
what  his  purpose  was.  He  has  weighed  the  whole 
matter.  He  has  counted  the  cost.  He  asks  sympathy 
and  guidance.  The  following  is  part  of  a  letter  on 
this  subject  to  his  father  : — • 


Missionary  Views.  155 

"  St.  Mart's,  Yarrow,  2nd  July,  1874. 
"Secondly, — About  what  I  am  to  do  when  my  course  is 
through.  You  know  I  have  long  felt  drawn  to  the  mission-field. 
It  has  been  a  life-long  cherished  desire.  I  never  had  any  distinct 
attraction  to  stay  at  home  ;  and  the  feeling  becomes  stronger  the 
older  I  grow.  I  felt  so  bitterly  the  wrench  it  would  be  to  leave 
you  all,  that  when  I  tried  several  times  last  spring  to  make  up 
my  mind  to  speak  to  you  on  it,  I  could  not  do  it.  But  I  should 
like  to  have  the  matter  settled,  for  then  I  would  devote  myself 
entirely  to  studying  for  it,  and  otherwise  preparing  ;  one  would 
need  to  know  the  outs  and  ins  of  mission  life,  and  there  are 
plenty  opportunities  in  Edinburgh  for  it,  and  two  sessions  are 
not  very  long  to  leave  for  that.  The  more  I  think  of  it  the 
more  I  am  sure  that  any  talent  I  have  will  not  be  as  a  preacher, 
but  as  a  teaching  missionary,  looking  after  young  men  or  girls. 
And  I  feel  sure  this  is  God's  call  to  me.  If  God  calls  me  I  can- 
not stand  back.  No  one  has  ever  persuaded  me  ;  no  one  knew 
it  till  I  told  them,  and  the  most  who  do  know  are  against  it. 
So  few  go  out  that  there  is  all  the  more  reason  for  my  going." 

The  next  is  if  possible  more  decided,  and  with 
great  tenderness  and  beauty  refers  to  parental  feeling 
on  this  subject : — 

"  St.  Mart's,  Yarrow,  9th  July,  1874. 

"  Mt  dear  Papa, — I  got  your  letter  yesterday,  and  am  glad 
you  have  written  so  distinctly  and  decidedly.  Such  a  letter  helps 
one  to  decide.  Of  course  you  will  not  expect  me  to  be  able  to 
make  up  my  mind  what  I  should  do  at  once.  I  will  require 
time.  If  a  father's  keenest  feelings  were  to  be  a  practical 
barrier,  then  no  missionaries  would  ever  go  out.  Every  mission- 
ary has  to  encounter  a  like  dissuasive  ;  you  do  not  know  that 
the  one  distinct  desire  that  I  can  look  back  upon  during  my  life 
has  been  this  one,  and  it  has  always  grown  with  life.  This,  of 
course,  must  prevent  my  coming  to  any  sudden  change  of  pur- 


156        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

pose  ;  you  cannot  make  an  end  of  a  leaning  that  has  grown  out 
of,  and  then  into,  your  very  heart,  taking  such  entire  possession 
of  it  that  you  and  it  were  one.  And  I  must  say  that  I  consider 
this  to  be  a  direct  Divine  call ;  I  cannot  simply  feel  otherwise, 
so  miserably  few  go  out.  Dr.  Carstairs  Douglas  could  not  get 
one  the  other  year  for  China  from  our  colleges,  which  I  cannot 
help  thinking  a  very  discreditable  thing.  I  am  saying  all  this, 
not  as  answer  to  your  objections,  but  to  show  you  the  way  it  has 
presented  itself  to  me  for  now  a  long  time  since. 

"  I  must  close,  and  only  wish  to  say  that  I  do  entreat  you  not 
to  take  this  to  heart  too  much  ;  if  God  leads  me,  I  must  go,  if 
not,  I  will  stay.  Your  views  may  change  my  will  and  resolu- 
tion, but  they  can  never  change  the  life-long  wish  that  I  never 
expect  to  leave  me  during  my  life." 

The  next  brings  in  some  communications  he  had 
received  in  reference  to  the  foreign  field : — 

"  \4:th  April,  1875. — I  send  you  the  note  Dr.  Murray  Mitchell 
sent  me.  If  God's  voice  is  so  strong  in  calling  me,  what  can  I 
do  ?  Are  there  not  so  few,  so  very  few  going  ?  Is  it  not  the 
Church's  first  duty,  nay,  privilege  to  spread  the  Gospel  abroad  ? 
I  think  He  wishes  us  to  pray  very  often  about  this,  to  put  it 
continually  as  the  great  matter  under  His  eye,  and  to  ask  that 
we  may  be  guided  so  certainly  by  His  unerring  hand,  and  that 
it  shall  be  made  so  clear  to  us,  and  so  much  God's  will  to  our 
friends  and  relations,  that  there  the  hard  trial  may  be  taken 
away  too.  I  am  sure  God  will  guide  us,  but  we  must  not  let 
this  surety  be  our  rest ;  it  is  rather  in  prayer,  and  daily 
committal  of  this  thing  to  Him  that  we  shall  be  guided." 

"  11^^  August,  1875. — I  feel  I  should  keep  my  mind  open,  and 
not  decide  until  my  examinations  are  over.  I  told  Dr.  M. 
Mitchell  so.  Dr.  Duff  was  there  at  the  time  ;  they  said  they 
would  not  press  it,  and  would  wait  for  an  answer  until  my  session 
was  completed.     Yet  the  call,  as  I  have  heard  it  before,  and 


Missionary  Views.  157 


DOW  as  it  comes  again,  is  as  imperative  as  ever,  and  as  distinctly 
God's  as  ever.  Let  us  ever  bear  this  request  earnestly  and 
increasingly  before  Him  who  has  sent  His  call,  that  He  would 
lead  us  in  '  the  right  way,'  the  ordij  path  He  means  us  to  take. 
I  have  cast  the  burden  on  Him,  and  it  is  sweet  to  have  done  so. 
Let  us  pray  that  if  we  do  go,  it  may  be  clear  to  all  that  the  call 
is  God's,  and  then  all  will  be  light,  and  He  will  surely  make  our 
darkness  to  be  marvellous  light.  He  cannot  fail  to  direct  our 
steps,  and  choose  out  our  inheritance  for  us." 

"  l^ili  August,  1875. — Not  merely  a  right  way,  but  the 
right  way, — there  being  only  one,  Ps.  cvii.  7.  How  often  have  I 
read  these  verses  over  and  over  again  when  I  was  tired  and  per- 
plexed, and  always  got  comfort  from  them. 

"  I  had  some  pleasant  visiting  yesterday,  and  a  few  trials  in  it, 
which  have  done  me  good.  I  wish  I  were  more  courageous. 
Why  I  should  tremble  and  feel  inclined  to  flee  every  time  I  ring 
a  bell  I  don't  know.  I  am  naturally  unfitted  for  such  work.  I 
cannot  help  thinking  that  teaching  is  really  my  work  ;  it  is  not 
so  ambitious  and  dangerous  in  the  efi'ects  it  may  have  on  a  man 
in  the  way  of  lifting  him  up.  But  that  should  not  be  the  reason 
why  any  one  should  decide  for  or  against  it.  God's  call  that  is 
to  decide." 

"  llth  August,  1875. — All  yesterday,  prostrate  with  my  old 
enemy,  intermittent  fever.  However,  I  am  better,  and  the 
weary,  depressing  pain  in  my  back  is  not  there  to-day.  But 
this  certainly  proves  to  me  that  I  cannot  safely  or  sensibly 
contemplate  a  hot  climate.  And  the  bidding  farewell  to  all  my 
friends  and  relatives — I  can't  look  it  in  the  face  calmly. 
I  would  settle  and  stay  at  home  unless  this  lay  in  the  way — 
GocVs  will.  What  if  in  staying  at  home  I  should  be  disobeying 
God's  call,  or,  at  least,  choosing  for  myself?  This  would  be 
terrible.  I  think  I  shall  just  dismiss  it  from  my  thoughts 
at  present,  and  cast  this  burden  wholly  on  Him.  I  do  know 
that  all  will  come   right;    we  cannot  go  wrong  if  we  com- 


158         Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

mit  it  constantly  to  Him.  Pray  that  His  will  alone  may  be 
made  plain,  and  that  no  element  whatever  of  our  own  fancy,  or 
even  idea  of  duty,  may  blurr  the  clear  view  which  He  will  give 
us  of  our  future  sphere.  I  don't  know  how  I  could  ever  have 
looked  at  the  future  if  I  had  not  had  such  clear  indications  that 
God  had  something  for  me  to  do.  Such  proof  of  His  inter- 
ference in,  and  along  the  whole  course  of  my  life — such  inter- 
vention where  I  least  expected  it  and  thought  I  least  deserved 
it." 

India  was  the  first  sphere  which  presented  itself; 
and  it  was  not  without  great  hesitation  that  he 
declined  this.  I  need  not  enter  into  his  reasons  for 
this  declinature.  Medical  advice  chiefly  swayed 
him,  though  there  were  other  reasons  operating 
along  with  this  in  determining  his  choice.  Again 
and  again  he  consulted  me,  and  we  talked  over  the 
whole  matter  most  fully.  I  said  to  him  that  before 
deciding  for  India,  he  should  see  his  way  very  clear, 
for  it  seemed  as  if  there  were  some  qualifications 
possessed  by  him  which  would  better  suit  other 
fields.  No  one  sought  to  bias  him ;  but  some 
wished  him  to  consider  the  whole  matter  carefully, 
before  coming  to  a  decision.  I  knew  something,  at 
the  time,  of  the  work  in  France,  which  was  then 
little  more  than  beginning.  I  had  not  the  acquaint- 
ance of  its  honoured  director,  and  had  seen  but  little 
of  the  operations  amoDg  the  Communists.  But  I  was 
considerably  impressed  with  the  feeling  that  France 


Missionary  Views.  159 

was  the  place  for  him;  just  the  very  sphere  for  his 
gifts.  His  knowledge  of  French  and  German  were 
strongly  determining  points.  He  would  not  need  to 
wait  till  he  had  acquired  a  new  language,  whether  of 
Africa  or  India,  but  could  throw  himself  at  once  into 
the  heart  of  the  work  without  an  hour's  delay.  The 
spiritual  experience  through  which  he  had  passed 
eminently  fitted  him  for  dealing  with  unbelievers 
such  as  the  Paris  workers  have  to  encounter.  His 
skill  in  argument,  and  tact  in  meeting  objections, 
and  patience  in  bearing  with  opposition  had  already 
shown  themselves,  and  made  me  feel  that  he  was  the 
man  for  Paris.  Nor  has  there  been  cause  to  repent  of 
the  advice  then  given.  All  that  was  urged  on  him 
at  the  time  has  been  amply  verified.  The  sorrowful 
mystery  of  his  strange  removal  has  not  altered  my 
judgment.  There  was  a  work  to  be  done  in  France 
during  these  five  years;  and  here  was  the  man  to 
do  it.  The  following  is  his  letter  to  his  father  and 
mother  regarding  Paris.  It  is  dated  9th  February, 
1877:— 

"  Since  we  ^Yere  in  Paris  I  have  never  ceased  to  be  deeply 
interested  in  the  work  there  among  the  Communists.  Miss 
Howard,  whom  I  have  often  met  here,  has  often  asked  me  if 
I  would  not  think  of  Paris,  but  I  always  refused.  Lately,  how- 
ever, I  have  had  my  thoughts  turned  there  more  than  ever,  and 
wrote  shortly  to  Mr.  M'All  asking  for  information.  He  writes 
— to  our  surprise — entreating  us  to  think  of  the  work,  and  says 


i6o         Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

that  he  and  his  wife  have  long  wished  for  a  helper,  their  stations 
being  now  twenty  instead  of  four,  as  when  they  began.  I  have 
just  written  for  further  particulars,  but  tell  you  all  this  in  the 
meantime  that  you  may  know  what  is  passing  through  our 
minds.  He  says  that  the  want  is  very  great,  that  they  could  do 
much  more  if  they  had  more  workers.  Of  course  it  would  only 
be  for  two  or  three  years,  only  to  see  how  we  liked  it  ;*  and  we 
could  not  think  of  going  till  autumn." 

There  were  many  minor  points  regarding  his 
decision  at  this  time  for  Paris  which  need  not  be 
specified.  They  all  seemed  to  me  to  point  in  the 
same  direction  ;  and  before  long  he  came  to  see 
them  in  the  same  light,  though  loath  to  give  up 
India.  Had  Paris  not  presented  itself,  he  would  in 
all  likelihood  have  decided  for  India,  even  in  spite  of 
medical  opinion ;  but  here  was  work  for  him  to  do 
at  once.  It  was  missionary  work  too ;  for  to  no 
counsel  as  to  remaining  at  home  would  he  listen. 
Several  congregations  at  home,  who  had  heard  of 
him,  wrote  to  me  to  ask  if  I  could  not  persuade 
him  to  come  to  them.  But  he  refused  all  such 
requests.  He  thought  that  he  remained  long  enough 
at  home  when,  as  my  missionary,  he  laboured 
a   year    and   more   in   Edinburgh.      But   he   could 

*  This  idea  of  going  " '  to  see  how  we  liked  it'  vanished  almost  as 
soon  as  we  were  on  the  spot,"  says  Mrs.  Dodds.  "  Friends  used  some- 
times to  speak  as  if  it  were  only  a  temporary  thing,  and  that  he 
would  come  back  to  England.  I  used  to  feel ; — no  ; — nothing  will 
ever  make  him  quit  France,  unless  some  event  which  would  nearly 
break  his  heart." 


Missionary  Views.  i6i 

afterwards  acknowledge  that  that  year  of  home- 
labour  among  the  poor  was  of  great  service  to  him  in 
his  subsequent  work. 

As  he  said  one  day  in  my  hearing,  to  a  friend,  who 
urged  him  to  leave  Paris  after  he  had  been  two  years 
there,  "  No,  I'll  not  leave  Paris  ; "  so,  when  a  young 
man,  he  had  said  once  and  again  regarding  his  future 
life-work,  "  No,  I'll  not  settle  at  home ;  I  have  given 
myself  for  foreign  work."  The  advantageous  offers 
of  home-settlement  were  no  temptations  to  him.  He 
declined  them  all,  without  hesitation. 

The  following  sentences  from  a  letter  to  Dr. 
Murray  Mitchell,  in  answer  to  one  regarding  the 
Indian  field,  may  be  quoted  here.  The  exact  date  is 
not  preserved,  but  it  was  in  April,  1875  : — 

"  I  have  no  doubt  you  are  wondering  what  I  am  thinking 
about  the  mission-field,  and  whether  I  have  made  any  deci- 
sion. I  think  I  can  better  say  in  a  letter  what  my  feelings  are. 
I  have  not  come  to  any  decision.  I  cannot  say  that  my  desire  to 
go  has  sufi'ered  any  abatement ;  but,  according  to  the  advice  of 
my  best  friends,  and  according  to  Dr.  Begbie's  advice  also,  I  am 
satisfied  that  I  am  right  in  what  I  have  done.  Since  I  last  saw 
you  at  the  beginning  of  the  session,  I  have  not  ceased  to  ask 
God's  counsel  and  direction.  ...  I  need  not  take  up  time  in 
telling  you  how  He  dealt  with  me ;  but  need  only  say  that  His 
dealings  with  me  at  this  time  were  so  close  and  personal, — so 
decisive  and  marked,  that  I  shall  never  forget,  nor  cease  to  be 
most  thankful  for  what  I  learned  through  them.  Let  me  tell 
you  now  that  I  can  certainly  say  this  one  thing,  that  if  Gud 
calls  me  still  to  go,  I  can  assuredly  say  that  I  am  not  only  will- 


1 62         Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

ing  to  go,  but  shall  go  with  all  gladness,  and  count  it  not  only 
a  duty  but  a  privilege.  I  know  that,  if  ever  in  my  life  my  will 
was  given  up  to  Him,  it  has  been  so  in  this  one  thing.  At  the 
same  time,  I  Iznow  most  surely  that  His  teaching  has  been  show- 
ing me  most  clearly  that  I  must  wait  and  not  decide.  This  is 
not  my  inclination.  I  had  rather  know  whether  to  go  or  not, — 
whatever  God's  leading  may  be.  Those  who  are  not  at  all 
opposed  to  me  going,  have  advised  me  to  wait  and  see  what  is 
proposed  for  me  ;  and  I  can  truly  say  that  I  have  a  sure  evi- 
dence that  this  is  my  duty  just  now ;  for  God  has  taught  me 
so.  I  do  not  deny  that  this  seems  strange,  even  to  myself ;  but 
it  is  best ;  and  it  has  taught  me  what  I  would  not  have  missed  ; 
and  it  is  best  also  that  I  should  be  taught  hovo  God  really  has 
my  future  in  His  hands,  somewhere  or  other  to  use  me,  though 
I  may  not  know  it  entirely  now.  My  longing  for  the  mission- 
field  is  not  a  whit  gone.  When  I  read  mission  intelligence, 
and  when  I  see  the  very  very  few  who  have  gone  or  are  going, 
I  sometimes  wish  to  fling  myself  into  the  work.  But  I  have 
been  kept  back  from  this  by  God's  dealings  ;  and  that  they  are 
His  I  have  not  a  single  doubt.  I  have  been  enabled  to  put  my 
future  entirely  into  His  hands,  and  '  tarry  the  Lord's  leisure.' " 

In  sending  this  letter  to  a  friend,  he  says,  "  When 
I  saw  Dr.  Begbie  I  asked  him  about  climate,  and  he 
said  that  I  should  come  to  no  decision  just  now. 
Anything  that  he  did  add  was  not  in  encouragement 
of  my  going." 

The  next  letter  is  to  his  father,  stating  his  deci- 
sion as  to  India : — 

"  17  Archibald  Place,  21th  December,  1875. 
"  My  Dear  Papa, — I  daresay  I  can  say  better  in  a  letter  to 
you  what  I  wish  to  say  about  my  thoughts  as  to  what  I  shall 


Missionary  Views.  i6 


o 


do  at  the  close  of  this  session.  I  need  not  go  over  what  you 
already  know, — namely,  that  since  last  January  it  was  left  an 
unsettled  thing  whether  I  should  go  out  as  a  missionary  or  not. 
I  can  see  God's  hand  very  clearly  in  your  letter  written  to  me 
at  St.  Mary's  in  the  summer  of  1874,  which  dissuaded  me  from 
fixing  at  that  time  ;  also,  I  can  see  it  as  clearly  in  His  dealings 
with  me  last  Christmas,  when  I  was  almost  inclined  to  give  up 
all  thoughts  of  it.  I  was  kept  from  that  by  what  I  hiow  to 
have  been  God's  hand  and  will ;  and  since  then  you  know  that 
1  have  been  unsettled.  Since  then,  also,  I  have  never  ceased 
to  make  it  an  almost  daily  subject  of  prayer  ;  and  I  write  this 
letter  to  let  you  know  my  thoughts,  not  my  decision,  as  I  have 
made  none. 

"  One  thing  I  may  as  well  say  here  and  now  :  I  cannot  go 
to  India — if  I  go  out— under  Dr.  Duflf's  system.  ...  It  would 
be  rash  to  decide  altogether  against  that  system.  Nevertheless, 
I  have  a  decided  objection  to  it,  and  will  not  go  to  teach  moral 
philosophy,  or  English  literature,  or  any  purely  secular  branch 
of  knowledge.  I  agree  with  you  that  this  is  not  the  work  of  a 
preacher  of  the  Gospel,  of  a  missionary  ;  not  the  manner  of 
winning  souls  ;  not  the  example  left  by  the  apostles.*  But 
this  is  not  saying  that  I  feel  the  call  lessened  or  removed ; 
I  rather  feel  it  with  all  the  more  intensity.  What  would  you  say 
was  a  call  ?  How  would  you  explain  it,  or  how  would  you 
view  the  constant  desire  I  have  had  for  long  to  go  ?  It  has 
existed  and  grown  under  the  most  earnest  and  anxious  prayer 
for  guidance  and  light.  If  all  this  be  not  a  call,  or  in  the  direc- 
tion of  a  call,  what  is  %     I  have  been  reading  John  MacDonald's 


*  His  decision  against  India  rested  on  two  grounds, — health,  and 
what  appeared  to  him  the  secular  character  of  the  post  ofifered  to 
him.  His  decision  against  secular  teaching  was  the  more  unbiasstid 
because  teaching  in  itself  was  a  kind  of  passion  with  him,  and  he  felt 
himself  particularly  suited  to  it. 


164        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

Life.  In  his  words,  I  may  say,  '  My  anxiety  is  to  have  my  call 
made  clear ;  my  mind  is  weaned  from  every  consideration  but 
the  will  of  my  Lord.  I  think  I  can  say  this  (I  could  not  a 
year  ago)  :  I  appeal  to  Him  as  my  Teacher  ;  that  is  my  only 
concern  now.  Father  and  mother,  brothers,  and  sisters,  and 
friends,  I  have  laid  at  the  footstool  of  the  throne  as  at  my 
Lord's  service,  so  that  I  shall  leave  them  if  He  demand.'  Do 
you  think  my  feelings  in  this  matter  can  be  imagination,  or  a 
morbid  sense  of  duty,  or  mere  natural  inclination  ?  Is  it  the 
*  way  of  the  Spirit '  to  let  one  continue  in  such  a  state  in  so 
great  a  matter  after  earnest  prayer,  and  such  dealings  as  I  have 
experienced  ? 

"  M.  has  had  much  to  sacrifice  of  her  own  inclinations 
against.  I  have  had  a  good  deal  to  learn  of  how  my  own 
inclinations  must  not  decide  for.  We  have  been  led  by  dif- 
ferent paths  to  the  same  result.  We  must  wait  on  Him  for  an 
answer  ;  and  is  He  not  giving  it  ?  .  .  . 

"  I  am  very  conscious  of  what  I  may  have  to  give  up, — litera- 
ture, and  theology,  and  time  for  study ;  but  these  are  nothing 
in  the  way,  and  they  are  also  nothing  compared  with  going 
away  from  you  all .  Meanwhile,  I  do  ask  you  both  to  make  it 
a  special  subject  of  prayer,  till  the  spring  or  later,  when  it  may 
be  necessary  to  decide.  Ask  that  I  may  be  kept  at  home,  if 
He  wills  it ;  ask  that  I  may  be  sent  abroad,  with  a  call  clear 
not  only  to  myself  and  M.,  but  to  you  all.  I  do  not  doubt  in 
the  slightest  that  you  will  expect  an  answer,  even  as  I  myself 
pray  and  look  for  one  that  will  change  perplexity  into  clearness, 
and  show  the  right  way. — Your  ever  aflfectionate  son." 

"  Uh  August,  1875. — He  shall  choose  our  inheritance  for  us. 
I  know  He  will ;  but  let  us  pray  that  all  may  be  made  very 
clear,  and  that  we  may  be  led  in  the  right  way." 

"  Itlh  August,  1875. — Dr.  M.  Mitchell  pressed  me  a  good 
deal  this  morning.     They  want  three  men.     I  do  not  know 


Missionary  Views.  165 

what  to  do.  I  said  he  must  wait  till  the  end  of  next  session 
before  I  could  at  all  think  of  answering  him ;  that  this  I  felt  to 
be  God's  leading  ;  and  that  my  friends  all  desired  it.  I  told 
him  that  climate  was  an  insuperable  objection  just  now,  but 
that  I  had  still  to  hear  what  Dr.  Begbie  might  say  finally.  Dr. 
M.  says  that  Bombay  is  quite  cool  during  winter  months,  and 
that  during  other  seasons  I  could  go  to  the  Hills.  They  are 
in  great  need  of  men  for  Madras  and  Bombay.  Do  you  not 
think  that  it  is  a  terrible  thing  that  so  few  go  abroad  ?  This 
weighs  most  with  me,  besides  the  life-long  wishes  I  have  had, 
and  that  have  now  grown  into  me,  as  they  formerly  grew  out 
and  developed.  It  seems  so  like  God's  will  that  I  should  go. 
I  never  hear  the  voice  say,  '  You  will  do  right  in  staying  at 
home.'  It  seems  always  to  say  that  I  shall  do  right  if  I  go. 
But  I  said  to  Dr.  M.  that  my  Board  work  and  missionary  work 
were  quite  enough  just  now  to  take  up  my  mind,  and  that 
I  could  not  undertake  the  weight  of  having  to  decide  just  now 
as  he  wished  me.  The  Lord  oicr  God  will  make  our  darkness 
to  be  light,  in  His  own  way  and  time.  Let  us  wait  on  Him  for 
this  to  dawn.'.' 

"2nd  Beccmhcr,  1875. — I  have  been  thinking  much  of  the 
foreign  field  this  week.  Dr.  Duff  had  one  of  his  grand  lectures 
to-day  on  St.  Paul;  it  was  really  very  fine,  describing  St.  Paul's 
missionary  spirit.  I  cannot  help  feeling  the  terrible  want  that 
exists  for  missionaries  everywhere, — not  in  India  only.  How 
little, — how  very  little  does  the  Church  realise  her  duty, — her 
privilege,  the  blessing  that  might  accrue  from  greater  mission- 
ary zeal.  And  the  question  always  comes  back  to  me.  Is  this 
longing  which  God  has  given  me  for  the  mission-field  to  be  a 
barren  one  ?  I  wonder  what  man  would  not  feel  at  liberty  to 
disregard  the  call,  if  I  am  at  liberty  to  do  so." 

"2lst  December,  1875. — Have  you  looked  at  the  Record? 
Really  when  one  sees  the  great  fields  ready  for  harvest,  and  the 


1 66        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

labourers  '  olim  depugnantes,  jam  prostrates  atque  mortuos,' 
does  one  not  feel  how  great  the  need  is,  and  how  strongly 
imperative  God's  call  becomes  in  the  midst  of  such  want, — how 
personal  the  call  becomes  amid  such  a  general  cry." 

"  Srcl  January,l8'76. — I  do  not  think  a  missionary's  post  more 
solemn  than  a  minister's,  in  responsibility, — I  had  almost  said 
in  difficulty.  They  were  not  different  in  the  early  ages  of 
Christianity  ;  they  should  not  be  so  now.  Our  Church  and  our 
ministers  should  be  missionary  and  missionaries." 

Finding  that  lie  was  greatly  drawn  to  Paris,  and 
being  convinced  that  his  qualifications  for  that  place 
were  of  no  common  kind,  several  of  his  friends  encour- 
aged him  to  think  of  it.  Passing  through  it  in  1876, — 
a  year  before  he  decided  to  settle  there, — he  addressed 
a  meeting,  regarding  which  he  thus  writes  to  his 
brother :  "  They  prevailed  on  me  to  address  a  meet- 
ing ;  and  I  began  with  an  interpreter ;  but  finding 
that  slow  work,  I  dropped  it,  and  made  a  desperate 
plunge  at  French,  and  succeeded.  The  people  were 
most  attentive  eager  listeners." 

The  prospect  of  being  able  at  once  to  enter  on  the 
work,  without  a  preliminary  year,  or  two  years  of 
language-learning,  vfas  an  inviting  one.  He  was 
already  largely  equipped  for  the  service  there ;  and 
his  past  studies  and  experience  seemed  to  be  of  the 
very  kind  needed.  Fully  we  talked  the  matter  all 
over ;  consulting  how  he  could  best  dedicate  his  gifts 


Resolution  to  Settle  in  Paris.  167 

to  the  service  of  Christ.  He  then  opened  up  a  com- 
munication with  Mr.  M'All ;  and  ere  long  all  arrange- 
ments were  made  for  his  going.  It  only  remained 
to  put  all  things  in  order  at  home.  This  was  done.* 
A  house  was  taken  for  him  at  Belleville, — 6  Kue  des 
Fetes;  and,  in  the  beginning  of  November,  1877, 
with  his  wife  and  first-born  son,  he  started  for  his 
great  destination.  Mr.  M'All  received  him  as  a 
father  a  son ;  and  from  that  day  the  affection  on 
both  sides  continued  to  increase.  The  way  in  which 
he  spoke  of  his  venerable  colleague  from  first  to  last 
showed  how  strong  and  warm  was  the  bond  between 
them.  It  was  well  that  a  young  minister  of  twenty- 
seven  should  begin  his  work  in  connection  with  such 
experience  and  such  fellowship. 

There  was  much  to  cheer  an  ardent  worker, 
though  the  magnitude  of  the  work,  and  the  dis- 
tances to  be  traversed,  and  the   lateness  of  hours 

*  A  letter  dated  30th  June,  1877,  contains  the  following  reference 
to  his  separation  from  our  Grange  Mission  and  departure  for 
Paris  : — "The  other  day,  going  about  in  the  Cause  way  side,  I  was 
groaning  over  the  little  time  I  had  had,  and  shall  have,  when  the 
thought  was  sent  into  my  mind,  *  If  you  had  not  had  all  this  afflic- 
tion you  could  not  have  spoken  to  people  as  you  have  done.'  .  .  • 
I  like  visiting  a  friend's  manse,  and  sometimes  an  envious  feeling 
comes  up,  and  a  sort  of  longing  to  have  a  quiet  place  like  this  ;  but 
I  am  glad  that  our  future  is  to  be  in  Paris ;  it  would  not  do  for 
every  one  to  stay  at  home;  some  must  go.  I  feel  /  have  been 
called." 


1 68        Memow  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

might  have  alarmed  a  timid  worker.  All  the  more 
was  he  cheered  when  he  found  how  well  the  climate 
of  Paris  suited  him.  It  was  dry  and  bracing;  not 
relaxingly  hot.  And  Belleville,  built  upon  a  con- 
siderable height,  was  not  a  disagreeable  place  of 
residence,  though  the  abode  of  poverty  and  crime. 

He  began  his  work;  and  from  that  day  there 
was  no  cessation  till  he  was  called  away  by  the 
Master.  The  rugged  natures  which  he  had  daily  to 
encounter  did  not  in  the  least  daunt  him.  He 
enjoyed  the  stubborn  work.  The  atheistical  spirits 
with  whom  he  had  to  discuss  questions  were  cer- 
tainly new  to  him  ;  but  he  was  prepared  for 
them,  and  he  had  come  to  pity  and  to  love  them. 
They  did  not  ruffle  him  at  all.  Their  outspokenness 
was  pleasant  to  him,  for  he  could  deal  with  them 
without  circuitousness  or  subterfuge.  They  spoke 
to  him  without  reserve,  and  so  did  he  to  them. 
They  made  no  mistakes  as  to  what  he  was  and 
what  he  was  not.  They  soon  found  that  he  was  no 
"  clerical,"  no  "  Jesuit,"  no  spy ;  but  one  who  had 
come  from  another  land  to  speak  to  them  about 
"  religion,"  a  religion  of  love  and  peace ;  and  that 
he  was  in  earnest.  He  came  not  dressed  in  the 
long  priestly  robe,  nor  wearing  the  large  priestly  hat. 
He  was  plainly  attired,  and  put  forth  no  pretensions  to 
authority.     He  carried  in  his  hand  not  a  Latin  missal 


Res  0  hit  ion  to  Settle  in  Paris.         169 


or  breviary,  but  a  book  which  he  called  the  Book 
of  God, — and  the  New  Testament  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ, — or  perhaps  some  simple  tract,  which  spoke 
to  them  of  the  love  of  God,  and  of  pardon  without 
a  price.  He  did  not  ask  for  reverence,  though  they 
soon  learned  to  reverence  and  to  love  him.  He  did 
not  speak  of  the  Church,  or  the  Virgin,  or  the  Pope ; 
but  of  the  Son  of  God,  who  died  for  sinners.  He 
did  not  carry  a  crucifix,  nor  wear  a  scapular,  nor 
impose  penances,  nor  ask  for  confessional  fees.  He 
was  more  ready  to  give  than  to  receive;  and  the 
words  of  grace  which  came  from  his  lips  were  words, 
the  like  of  which  they  had  never  heard  before. 

It  was  touching  to  notice  the  infidel  listening,  to 
see  the  rude  man  softening,  to  watch  the  hardened 
melting  into  tears,  to  receive  the  respectful  bow,  or 
the  cordial  shake  of  the  hand,  or  the  kind  welcome 
from  the  grateful  ouvrier.  And  the  meetings,  too,  so 
unlike  those  to  which  they  had  been  accustomed!  No 
confusion  or  uproar ;  no  lewd  or  revolutionary  song ; 
no  mockery  of  religion  or  government;  no  attacks 
upon  the  rich,  yet  the  warmest  expressions  of  kind- 
ness for  the  poor.  Thus  he  went  out  and  in  among 
them  as  one  of  themselves,  the  example  of  true 
fraternity,  liberty,  and  equality.  Quickly  they  found 
out  what  he  was, — a  man  really  seeking  their  good ; 
bringing  to  them  not  a  religion  of  money,  but  of 


170        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

kindness  and  benevolence.*  His  residence  at 
Belleville,  in  the  very  heart  of  communism,  told 
upon  the  whole  neighbourhood,  winning  both  ears 
and  hearts.  It  was  a  beginning  of  the  right  kind, 
following  up  Mr,  M' All's  footsteps  when,  some  few 
years  before,  he  had  planted  himself  in  the  same 
locality,  and  in  so  doing  had  gained  access  to  the 
lowest  and  the  worst  of  the  populace. 

But  though  Belleville  was  his  home  for  his  first 

*  Yet  the  kind  of  people  among  whom  he  laboured  may  be  judged 
by  the  following  sentence  from  one  of  the  anarchists'  manifestoes, 
published  within  this  last  year  : — "  We  propose  to  teach  the  people 
to  live  without  a  Government,  as  they  are  already  beginning  to  learn 
how  to  live  without  God.  Our  party  will  also  teach  men  how  to 
live  without  property-holders.  The  worst  tyrant  is  not  he  who 
locks  you  up  in  gaol,  but  he  who  starves  you  ;  not  he  who  takes 
you  by  the  coat-collar,  but  he  who  takes  you  by  the  stomach. 
There  is  no  liberty  without  equality ;  no  liberty  with  a  society  in 
which  capital  is  monopolised  in  the  hands  of  a  minority,  and  nothing 
is  evenly  divided,  not  even  public  education,  which,  nevertheless, 
is  paid  for  out  of  the  common  purse.  We  consider  that  capital, 
the  patrimony  of  all  humanity,  since  it  is  the  fruit  of  the  work  of 
past  and  present  generations,  ought  to  be  placed  within  the  reach 
of  all,  to  the  exclusion  of  none,  and  that  no  individual  ought  to 
seize  more  than  his  share,  to  the  detriment  of  the  rest."  Atheism 
and  Communism,  open  and  undisguised,  met  him  on  every  side. 
With  singular  wisdom,  he  met  and  disarmed  both  ;  nor  had  he 
ever  to  complain  of  rudeness  or  unkindness.  He  was  patiently 
listened  to  in  the  district  meeting,  or  the  house,  or  the  village,  or 
on  the  street.  Boldly  but  kindly  he  went  up  to  the  worst,  and 
was  never  repulsed.  "  It  is  the  Christian's  cowardice  that  spoils 
his  fortune,"  was  once  remarked  ;  and  he  found  that  straightfor- 
ward dealing  with  the  men  of  Belleville  and  Lyons  was  successful. 


Resolution  to  Settle  in  Paris,  171 

eighteen  months,  the  work  went  far  beyond  that  re- 
markable faubourg ;  and  the  Mission  gradually  crept 
round  the  whole  city,  and  interlaced  its  streets.  On 
foot,  in  cabs,  in  omnibuses,  in  tramways,  in  boats,  he 
went  forth  on  his  missionary  errand  of  preaching  or 
visiting.  He  was  not  confined  within  any  limit  or 
locality.  All  Paris  was  his  district;  afterwards,  all 
France.  Even  before  his  arrival,  Mr.  M'All  had 
opened  twenty-one  stations,  all  craving  help  from 
the  new  missionary,  and  each  year  continued  to  add 
to  these. 

He  now  at  last  found  himself  in  the  position  he 
had  so  long  coveted  to  occupy,  and  doing  the  work  on 
which  from  childhood  he  had  set  his  heart.  Only  he 
had  to  face  not  the  cities  of  India  with  their  millions 
of  Buddhists  and  Mohammedans,  but  a  city  of 
Christendom  with  its  crowds  of  unbelievers,  to  whom 
the  Bible  was  a  fable,  Christianity  an  imposture, 
religion  a  device  of  priests  for  the  victimising  of  the 
ignorant  and  the  oppression  of  the  poor. 

To  meet  the  various  elements  of  evil,  and  the 
many  phases  of  unbelief,  he  had  but  one  weapon, — 
that  Gospel  which  he  knew  so  well,  and  which  he 
could  so  clearly  deliver  to  the  strange  audiences 
which  drew  around  him  day  by  day ;  a  Gospel  very 
unlike  anything  that  these  audiences  had  ever 
heard, — the  Gospel  of  God's  free  love,  presenting  to 


\J2        Alemoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

the  sons  of  men,  without  gold  or  silver,  a  pardon 
which  the  priesthood  had  hitherto  kept  under  their 
own  lock  and  key,  to  be  withheld  or  dispensed  at 
their  pleasure,  and  for  their  gain.  For  the  hearty, 
honest,  and  immediate  pardon  of  the  sinner,  without 
a  priest,  and  without  gold  or  silver,  is  an  idea 
unknown  and  imintelligible  to  those  who  have 
learned  from  childhood  the  fundamental  principle 
of  Romanism,  that  God's  favour  may  be  bought 
with  money,  or  secured  by  merit. 

But  his  early  work  in  Paris  we  defer  to  the  next 
chapter. 


CHAPTER   V. 

EARLY  WORK  IN  PARIS — BELLEVILLE — LETTERS  AND 
JOURNALS. 

^HE  narrative  of  his  early  work  can  best  be 
given  in  the  words  of  Mrs.  Dodds,  without 
embellishment.  It  carries  the  reader  at 
once  into  the  heart  of  the  Mission  and  its  peculiar 
operations.  It  sets  the  reader  down  in  the  centre  of 
the  field  and,  bidding  him  look  round,  describes  its 
different  lights  and  shadows. 

There  is  something  very  cheery  about  the  first 
words ;  and  very  bright  is  the  first  scene  as  it  broke 
upon  the  view  of  the  young  missionary.  The  sun- 
shine that  rested  on  his  arrival  seemed  like  a 
promise  of  long  years  of  gladness  and  blessing. 
The  contrast  between  the  Belleville  noise  and  din, 
in  the  midst  of  which  he  arrived,  and  the  Buisson 
solitude  in  which  he  departed  five  years  after,  is 
sorrowful ;  and  would  be  far  more  so  were  it  not 
that  he  passed  out  of  weariness  into  rest,  out  of  a 

wilderness  into  the  society  of  the  great  multitude 

173 


174         Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 


that  no  man  can  number, — some  of  them  the  poor 
ouvriers  whom  he  had  loved,  and  taught  on  earth 
the  way  to  heaven. 

Into  the  very  heart  of  the  work  he  throws  himself 
at  once.  The  doors  are  wide ;  the  stations  are 
ready ;  the  eyes  and  ears  are  open ;  no  priests  nor 
prefets  to  hinder  ;  no  opposition,  nor  even  indiffer- 
ence. He  begins  on  the  very  night  of  his  arrival ;  and 
though  at  first  he  hardly  trusts  himself  to  address 
without  written  preparation,  he  finds  very  soon  that 
he  can  completely  command  the  language  and  be 
listened  to  as  if  he  were  a  Frenchman. 

The  difference  between  such  an  immediate  entry 
on  work,  and  the  years  of  laborious  study  which 
our  foreign  missionaries  have  to  undergo  is  very 
noticeable.  When  one  reads  the  narrative  of 
Brainerd  or  Morrison,  or  Carey  or  Judson,  he  cannot 
help  being  deeply  touched  with  the  solitary  and 
arduous  studies  of  these  noble  men  in  acquiring  the 
new  language,  and  the  patience  with  which  they 
plodded  on  till  they  were  able  to  speak  ever  after- 
wards to  their  hearers  ;  trying  to  conduct  their 
private  devotions  in  the  language  of  their  adopted 
country,  and  so  step  by  step  to  acquire  facility  of 
speech  in  the  Chinese  or  the  Burman.  This  long, 
weary,  patient  preparatory  study  has  often  struck  us 
as  one  of  the  most  telling  proofs  of  their  devote dn ess. 


Eaidy  Work  in  Paris.  175 

In  Mr.  Dodds'  case   all  this  labour  was  unneeded. 
He  could  begin  without  delay. 

Mr.  Dodds  left  Edinburgh  in  the  end  of  October, 
1877,  with  his  wife  and  one  baby,  accompanied  also  by 
his  youngest  sister.  For  the  description  of  the  com- 
mencement of  the  work  we  prefer  giving  Mrs.  Dodds' 
narrative  to  our  own  : — 

"Breaking  the  journey  by  a  night  or  two  in  London  in  the 
ever-hospitable  house  of  the  late  lamented  Mr.  James  Watson, 
and  by  a  night  at  Boulogne,  we  went  on  to  Paris  on  1st  November, 
reaching  it  late  in  the  afternoon.  It  was  a  pleasant  day's  journey 
— a  day  of  golden  'Indian  summer,'  belonging  to  November 
only  in  name  ; — and  the  calm  sunshine  without  seemed  but  an 
emblem  of  the  hope  in  our  hearts  as  we  flitted  past  the  autumn- 
tinted  fields  and  woods  of  France.  Travelling  in  a  slow  train,  we 
had  abundant  opportunities  for  observation,  and  found  an  interest 
which  was  more  than  curiosity,  in  watching  the  new  comers  at 
every  station, — the  neat  peasant  women  with  their  pretty  white 
caps  and  tidy  shawls,  and  the  oddly  dressed  babies,  and  the 
men  who  took  our  tracts  with  such  profuse  expressions  of  polite- 
ness.    To  such  as  these  we  had  come  to  carry  the  Gospel. 

"The  station  reached,  kind  Mrs.  M'AU  met  us  and  saved 
us  from  bewilderment.  Belleville  seemed  a  long  way  ofi",  quite 
a  new  journey,  but  it  was  reached  at  last,  and  a  comfortable 
English  tea  found  waiting  for  us  in  our  own  house,  6  Eue  des 
Fetes.  Not  long  afterwards  Mr.  M'All  came  in,  and  the  first 
meeting  took  place  between  these  two,  who  so  quickly  became 
near  and  dear  friends,  as  well  as  colleagues.  Responding 
eagerly  to  Mr.  M'AU's  invitation,  Mr.  Dodds  went  out  with 
him  to  one  of  the  meetings,  not  in  a  very  distant  quarter — 
I  think  that  in  the  Rue  d'Allemagne.  This  was  the  first  of 
many  nights  spent  in  the  same  way." 


1 76        Me7noir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

From  letter  of  Mrs.  Dodds' : — 

"  ^nd,  Novemher. — To-night  they  have  gone  a  long  way.  He 
does  not  need  to  go,  and  of  course  does  not  yet  take  part ;  but 
he  is  so  much  interested,  and  likes  to  hear. 

"We  all  went  into  the  bureau  (in  our  house)  at  half-past 
eleven  this  forenoon  for  a  few  minutes  of  prayer  before  business 
began,  and  thus  we  met  the  other  workers.  Mr,  M'All  and 
another  gave  thanks  for  our  having  been  sent.  We  felt  it  most 
touching." 

Mrs.  Dodds'  narrative  proceeds : — 

"  A  very  pleasant  time  followed,  one  in  which  we  made  many 
new  friends  who  soon  grew  to  be  old  and  dear  friends.  The 
days  were  spent  in  the  many  adventures  incidental  to  *  settling 
down,'  making  new  discoveries  in  many  things  ;  finding  or 
losing  our  way  about  the  streets,  and  getting  initiated  into  the 
mysteries  of  that  most  intricate  system  of  omnibus  *  corre- 
spondence ' ;  making  odd  and  humiliating  mistakes  in  the 
language,  which,  like  other  foreigners,  we  found  we  did  not 
know  so  well  as  we  thought  we  did." 

Here  is  Mr.  Dodds'  first  letter  to  myself  from  his 

new  abode : — 

"  6  EuE  DEs  Fetes,  Belleville,  Paris, 
Friday,  Qth  November^  1877. 

"  My  Dear  Dr.  Bonar, — It  is  difficult  to  get  time  to  write,  we 
are  still  so  unsettled,  and  our  luggage  has  not  yet  come  ;  and 
when  it  does  come  the  books  must  go  to  the  Ministere  de  I'ln- 
terieure  to  be  examined,  lest  they  should  be  immoral  ! 

"  I  have  been  at  six  of  the  stations,  that  is  one  each  night 
since  I  came  (the  Saturdays  are  free) ;  and  though  they  are 
crowded  and  close,  and  the  going  out  to  the  open  air  is  a  con- 
siderable change  of  temperature,  I  have  never  had  the  least  touch 
of  the  enemy — ague  or  influenza.  M.  and  I  feel  that  our  mouths 
should  be  filled  with  His  praise  and  honour  all  the  day  long  ; 


Ea7dy  Wo7^k  in  Pa^Hs.  177 

we  know  not  tlie  numbers  of  His  righteousness,  and  salvation, 
and  loving  care  of  us  all.  The  work  here  is  wonderful,  and  the 
spiritual  results  are  before  one's  eyes  ;  one  meets  with  most 
striking  proofs  of  it  everywhere.  To  find  Mr.  M'All  stopped 
on  the  street  (as  he  was  yesterday  when  I  was  with  him)  and 
asked  by  a  woman  earnestly  to  visit  a  family  in  distress  through 
illness,  is  only  one  feature,  and  less  remarkable  far  than  the 
frequent  awakenings  and  decided  conversions  one  hears  of.  I 
heard  of  one  yesterday.  One  of  the  workers  was  standing  at  a 
book-stall  looking  at  some  books,  when  a  young  man  came  up 
to  him  and  made  a  remark  about  the  book  he  was  looking  at, 
and  then  said,  '  I  know  you  ;  I  have  heard  you  at  the  reunions. 
My  father  was  passing  the  door  of  the  Belleville  Salle  de  Con- 
ferences, and  the  doorkeeper  handed  him  a  notice  of  the  meet- 
ings. He  had  not  time  to  go  in,  and  went  home  ;  then  he  took 
the  bill  out  of  his  pocket  and  said  to  his  family.  This  was  given 
me  ;  it  looks  like  something  new.'  So  they  went,  and  the  result 
has  been  that  several  of  the  family  have  accepted  Christ.  The 
young  man  is  now  a  member  of  the  meeting  for  prayer  held  in 
the  Belleville  station,  and  composed  mostly  of  the  young  men 
who  have  been  awakened  lately.  I  went  yesterday  to  the  open- 
ing of  the  Protestant  College,  removed  from  Strasbourg  to 
Paris.  M.  Lichtenberger  opened  the  meeting,  and  I  liked  him  ; 
but  M.  Sabatier,  who  followed,  and  gave  an  introductory 
lecture  on  Biblical  Criticism,  I  do  not  like  at  all.  He  is  Broad, 
and  almost  a  Eationalist,  and  seemed  to  take  a  particular 
pleasure  in  showing  and  enumerating  the  MS.  variations  in  the 
text,  and  the  passages  which  he  said  had  been  inserted.  It  is 
a  pity  that  the  students  of  the  three  French  Churches  are  to  be 
under  such  training,  but  I  fear  that  M.  Sabatier  is  only  one  of 
the  many  heterodox  men  who  are  so  strong  in  the  Eeformed 
and  Lutheran  Churches. 

"  I  must  stop.     M.  and  I  are  going  out  to  the  weekly  prayer 
meeting  of  all  the  workers.     We  meet  here  every  morning  for 

N 


178        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 

prayer  and  business,  but  once  a-week  also  specially.  Mr. 
Saillens  lives  in  this  house  ;  he  has  rendered  many  of  the 
hymns  in  French,  and  they  are  remarkably  well  done." 

"  6  EuE  DES  Fetes,  \^i'h  Novemheo',  1877. 
"  We  are  gradually  settling  down  after  many  amusing  dis- 
tractions. The  discomforts  partake  a  good  deal  of  romance, 
but  they  won't  go  on  long  now.  I  am  beginning  to  find  my 
way  to  the  stations,  and  went  alone  last  night  to  one  and  pre- 
sided there.  How  heartily  they  sing,  and  how  eagerly  they 
listen.  They  are  most  deeply  touched  by  the  kindness  shown 
them." 

I  continue  Mrs.  Dodds'  narrative  : — 

"  A  few  sight-seeing  excursions  were  planned  just  at  first,  but 
all  these  things  soon  gave  way  in  the  absorbing  interest  of  the 
work. 

"  '  I  wonder  why  I  am  always  sent  to  such  distant  stations,' 
was  the  occasional  remark  for  the  first  week  or  two  ;  not 
at  all  in  the  spirit  of  discontent,  but  just  as  a  matter  of  sur- 
prise. Then  he  began  to  understand  that  one  who  should  con- 
fine himself  to  stations  at  hand  would  do  very  little  work 
indeed.  But  to  set  out  to  find  Grenelle  from  Belleville,  alone, 
on  a  dark  night,  was  like  making  a  voyage  of  discovery  in 
Africa.  To  hit  the  right  omnibus  amid  the  babble  of  strange 
talk  was  no  easy  matter ;  and  if  that  happened  to  be  full,  the 
hapless  traveller  had  to  use  his  wits  to  discover  what  to  do  next. 
At  shortest,  it  was  a  journey  of  nearly  an  hour  and  a-half  each 
way.  Soon  these  first  difficulties  grew  easy,  and  the  strange 
names — Grenelle,  Yaugirard,  Gare  d'lvry — began  to  represent, 
not  unknown  points  in  the  wilderness  of  streets,  but  little  knots 
of  human  souls,  whose  surroundings  and  temptations  began  to 
be  understood  by  their  teacher,  and  whose  spiritual  histories. 


Early  Work  in  Paris.  1 79 

whether  still  witnesses  to  the  darkness  and  ignorance  of  the 
past,  or  touched  by  the  dawn  of  a  new  sunshine,  were  more 
interesting  than  anything  else  in  Paris. 

"  Grenelle,  Ivry — what  remembrances  do  these  names  awaken 
now  !  They  were  among  the  stations  to  which  he  was  sent  at 
first,  and  to  which  he  adhered  to  the  very  end.  To  other  mlUs 
he  might  go  more  or  less  often,  as  was  convenient ;  to  these  he 
was  as  the  pastor  of  a  flock.  Only  illness  or  absence  could 
prevent  his  appearance  at  Grenelle  on  Sunday  night,  and  at 
Ivry,  first  on  Monday,  but  afterwards  on  Thursday.  There  he 
watched  spiritual  interest  growing  and  deepening,  till  he  felt 
sure  a  great  work  of  the  Spirit  was  at  hand.  There,  during  his 
last  year,  he  made  his  first  experiment  of  after-meetings,  from 
which  he  hoped  much. 

"  I  do  not  mean  that  his  interest  in  other  stations  was  less 
deep.  Rivoli,  the  Salle  Evangelique,  and  latterly  St.  Honor^, 
are  sacred  names  now  to  many  who  remember  him  there.  Still, 
the  audiences  were  different ;  and  while  a  few  might  be  known 
to  him  as  inquirers  or  newly-converted  ones,  it 'was  not  possible 
for  him  to  get  acquainted  with  the  whole  little  community,  as 
he  could  in  Grenelle  and  Ivry.  The  only  other  meeting  for 
which  he  had  this  Jiome  feeling  was  his  little  German  meeting  in 
Eue  d'Allemagne." 

Another  letter  of  Mr.  Dodds  makes  intimation  of 
his  progress,  and  describes  the  nature  of  his  work. 
The  picture  will  be  a  representative  one ;  and  from 
it  the  reader  will  get  an  insight  into  the  peculiar 
ways  of  proceeding  carried  out  in  these  strange 
meetings  by  new  but  earnest  speakers. 

"  6  Rue  des  Fetes,  20th  November,  1877. 
"  My  Dear  L . — I  went  alone  last  night  to  Menilmontant 


i8o        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds. 

station  and  presided  !  This  duty  consists  in  opening  the  meet- 
ing, reading  each  verse  of  the  hymns  before  they  are  sung, 
reading  part  of  a  chapter,  and  sometimes  also  a  piece  from  a 
book,  or  something  of  one's  own,  but  I  have  attempted  that  only 
once  at  Belleville.     Then  I  introduce  the  speakers  by  saying, 

*  M. prendra  la  parole,'  and  close  with  a  '  Soyez  tons  les 

bienvenues  chers  amis  dans  cette  salle,'  and  then  intimate  the 
meetings.  I  then  go  to  the  door  and  say  no  end  of  '  Bon  soir, 
monsieur ;  bon  soir,  madame,'  and  shake  hands  with  all  sorts  of 
ouvriers  and  ouvrieres.     I've  two  meetings  on  Sunday. 

"  There  is  the  funny  aspect  of  things,  but  the  work  is  deep 
and  lasting.  It  is  most  wonderful,  and  such  a  sight,  to  see  the 
eager,  happy  faces  drinking  in  the  truth  and  singing  with  all 
their  heart.  There  is  one  helper  who  speaks  French  with  a 
perfect  torrent  of  words,  he  spoke  the  other  night  all  the  way 
from  the  platform  to  his  seat  and  sat  down  speaking." 

"  6  Rue  des  Fetes,  Z^lli  November,  1877. 
(To  HIS  Father  and  Mother.) — "  I  wonder  when  this  French 
crisis  is  to  end  ;  one  begins  to  realise  that  the  same  contest  is 
going  on  here  as  was  experienced  in  Britain  during  Charles  I.'s 
reign.  There  are  signs  that  MacMahon  may  yield,  though  it 
will  be  Rome  in  reality,  represented  by  Madame  MacMahon 
and  her  '  directeur  spirituel,'  or  '  Jesuit  confessor,'  who  will 
find  it  necessary  to  retire.  Meanwhile  there  are  about  three 
hundred  thousand  people  without  work  in  Paris,  and  the  people 
here  know  and  feel  bitterly  that  it  is  the  conduct  of  MacMahon. 
The  stories  one  hears  are  dreadful  of  poverty  and  sickness ; — and 
we  can  do  so  little.  I  am  getting  to  know  the  people  in  some 
of  the  stations,  and  think  of  taking  a  Bible-class  soon,  perhaps 
at  Menilmontant,  which  is  quite  near.  I  have  not  had  much 
time  to  prepare  addresses,  but,  when  I  have  not,  I  read  pieces 
from  books,  &c.,  of  which  they  are  very  fond.  I  read  a  piece 
from  a  tract  of  Ryle's,  *  How  to  Read  the  Bible,'  one  evening 


Early  Work  in  Paris. 


i»i 


lately ;  one  could  have  heard  a  pin  drop,  these  things  are  quite 
new  to  them.  I  gave  them  an  account  of  the  Free  Breakfast  in 
Edinburgh,  which  seemed  to  interest  them  very  much.  The 
other  night  I  had  no  paper  and  was  forced  to  speak  from 
memory,  and  as  words  came,  I  daresay  this  is  the  best  practice 
one  could  have.  I  very  generally  preside,  besides  speaking,  and 
get  through  that  quite  easily,  though  that  entails  going  to  the  door 
at  the  end  of  the  reunion  and  saying  countless  bon  soirs,  madame 
— monsieur  ;  so  that  one's  hand  is  generally  very  stiff  after  the 
Guvriers  are  done  with  you.  I  wish  you  heard  the  hymns 
sung,  it  is  splendid,  hearty,  well-timed  singing  ;  sometimes  the 
people  will  remain  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour  to  practise  the 
hymns,  they  are  just  such  as  are  needed.  The  French  hymn- 
books  are  too  devotional.  We  need  such  hymns  as  tell  the 
Gospel  story,  and  have  got  them  in  '  Eock  of  Ages  ;'  '  Jesus  mis 
^  mort  pour  moi  ; '  and  '  The  great  physician  now  is  near  ; ' 
'  Venez,  coeurs  souffrants  et  meurtris,  au  Medecin  de  Tame.' " 

I  resume  tlie  narrative  : — 

"At  the  time  of  Mr.  Dodds'  arrival,  the  Mission  was  just 
passing,  or  had  passed  out  of  its  early  stage.  It  sounded 
curious  to  the  new-comers  to  hear  the  stories  of  these  early 
times,  when  the  little  band  of  workers  went  round  together  to 
each  of  the  three  or  four  meetings, — carrying  their  bundle  of 
hymn-books  from  one  to  the  other, — in  their  spare  hours  cover- 
ing books,  and  lending  them  ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M'All  being  the 
fountain  from  which  all  flowed,  and  to  which  all  returned. 
Now  the  meetings  had  grown  from  four  to  twenty.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  M'All  could  not  be  everywhere.  The  unfettered  lending 
and  giving  of  books  would  be  ruinous.  Division  of  labour  and 
organisation  were  imperatively  needed. 

"Mr.  Dodds'  first  work,  while  his  ear  and  tongue  were 
growing  familiar  with  the  language,  was  to  organise  the  lending 


1 82         Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

libraries,  by  allotting  a  few  carefully  numbered  books  to  each 
station,  and  appointing  some  individual  in  charge.  The  head- 
quarters were  in  his  own  house,  where  the  erection  of  book- 
shelves and  pigeon-holes  gave  opportunities  for  acquaintance 
with  the  Belleville  ouvrier  at  work, — his  Eepublican  freedom 
of  speech, — his  quick-wittedness  and  general  acquaintance  with 
the  surface  of  all  topics, — occasionally  his  perfunctoriness  and 
want  of  seriousness.  It  was  at  the  time  when  MacMahon's 
government  was  causing  much  discontent,  and  many  a  conversa- 
tion was  held  on  the  subject  with  these  men, — for  every  Parisian 
is  a  politician.  On  one  thing  they  were  determined, — times 
were  bad, — Government  was  to  blame  ;  but  be  that  as  it  might, 
they  would  not  rise.  They  were  tired  of  being  shot  down. 
They  would  not  be  shot  again.  And  so  it  passed.  For  the  first 
time,  perhaps,  in  French  history,  patience  won  a  victory  ;  and 
the  people  were  contented. 

"Besides  the  lending  libraries,  the  supply  of  tracts  given 
away  had  to  be  regulated,  and  confusion  avoided  by  marking 
where  each  tract  had  been  already  given,  that  it  might  not  be 
repeated.  For  many  reasons  a  new  supply  of  interesting 
tracts  was  urgently  required.  Grants  were  allowed  by  several 
societies  which  needed  to  be  carefully  managed.  Mr.  Dodds 
soon  made  himself  acquainted  with  all  the  books  on  the 
lists,  and  got  to  know  how  the  people  regarded  them.  He 
soon  found  out  that  many  a  good  theological  tract  is  useless  to 
those  people,  and  that  many  a  little  book  enjoyed  in  England 
loses  its  charm  when  translated  into  French,  unless  the  trans- 
lator can  throw  the  French  spirit  into  his  work.  He  set  to 
work,  then,  to  procure  new  original  tracts,  and  new  translations 
from  those  able  to  furnish  them.  This  led  him  soon  into  a  very 
extensive  correspondence. 

"Besides  the  literary  work, — the  mere  details  of  *the  bureau' 
were  growing  extensively  :  Arrival  and  distribution  of  large 
boxes, — ^journeys  to  the  *  douane,'  or  the  bank, — arrangements 


Early  Work  in  Pa^'is.  i8 


J 


about  printing  and  paper, — constant  minute  business  details  fell 
to  be  attended  to.  By  nature  these  things  were  irksome  to 
him,  yet  he  regarded  them  as  a  necessary  part  of  the  work  he 
had  come  to  do,  and  entered  into  them  with  all  his  heart.  All 
this,  however,  was  more  manageable  while  the  work  was  con- 
fined to  Paris  itself.  Each  new  town  added  to  the  Mission 
meant  not  only  new  workers  to  be  provided,  but  new  libraries 
to  be  worked,  great  railway  packages  to  be  sent  off  for  Lyons, 
Bordeaux,  &c.  All  this  Mr.  Dodds  kept  in  his  own  hands, — 
with  his  sister's  help, — until  Mr.  Greig  joined  the  work,  when 
the  daily  details  devolved  on  him.  But  the  arrangements  for 
new  publications  were  always  one  of  his  chief  concerns.  In  the 
midst  of  his  press  of  work  he  was  able  to  keep  his  eyes  open  for 
new  books, — not  only  in  French  or  English,  but  in  other 
languages, — and  to  press  the  best  into  the  service.  He  seemed 
to  know  by  instinct  when  a  suitable  work  appeared,  or  who 
could  write  one." 

But  this  has  carried  us  too  far  on.  We  return  to 
quote  from  one  or  two  letters  of  the  first  spring  after 
his  settlement  in  Paris. 

Writing  to  his  friend,  the  Rev.  H.  G.  Shepherd  of 
Cambuslang,  at  this  time,  he  says : — 

"  I  have  just  returned  from  a  meeting  miles  from  this — Gare 
d'lvry — one  of  the  lowest  quarters  of  the  town.  I  go  every 
Monday  evening.  It  is  a  deeply  interesting  station.  Generally 
I  have  about  a  hundred,  often  over  it.  The  sound  of  the  Gospel 
was  never  heard  there  before,  and  the  people  who  come  to  hear 
it  were  once  accustomed  to  the  cafe,  concert,  and  low  ball-room. 
There  is  a  wonderful  transformation  being  already  brought  about 
on  the  people's  outward  character.  I  read  my  addresses  ;  it 
will  be  some  time  ere  I  have  enough  fluency  to  speak  extempore; 
any  address  I  can  follow  now  very  easily.     I  am  at  a  meeting 


184        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

every  night  except  Saturday,  two  on  Sunday,  and  you  may 
imagine  I  have  enough  to  do.  Besides  I  have  the  charge  of 
the  central  library  and  of  those  of  the  several  stations,  and  what 
with  getting  them  put  in  proper  order, — for  there  was  no  proper 
librarian  before,  and  every  one  did  whatever  pleased  himself,  or 
rather  herself, — and  learning  my  work,  and  corresponding  on 
mission  business,  I  have  had  my  time  very  fully  occupied." 

We  quote  without  remark  the  following  letters,  so 
illustrative  of  the  nature  of  the  work  and  the  spirit 
of  the  workers,  though  they  are  somewhat  abrupt 
and  fragmentary : — 

"Xe  2me  FevrieVf  1878. — I  thought  you  would  like  to  see 
our  hymn-book ;  you  will  recognise  Sankey's  by  the  tunes. 
Many  of  them  are  Mr.  M'All's  work.  The  first  thing  he  did 
was  to  learn  to  write  French  poetry,  and  he  has  succeeded  so 
well,  and  taught  the  Gospel  in  them.  It  is  a  splendid  sight 
to  see  the  regular  ouvriers,  who  come  in  hundreds  to  the 
Faubourg  St.  Antoine  Station  singing  these  hymns.  Their  lips 
were  once  accustomed  only  to  the  more  than  ribald  songs  of  the 
cafe-concert  —  now  they  pass  the  theatres  and  ball-rooms, 
brilliantly  lighted  up  as  they  are,  and  crowd  our  stations.  At 
one  station  there  are  three  blind  men  who  come  ;  they  know 
the  hymns  by  heart.  I  have  just  got  a  grant  of  25,000  tracts-r- 
how  soon  they  will  disappear.  Rivoli  Station  is  open  every 
night.  If  you  saw  the  numbers  of  men  that  come  there  in  that 
splendid  street !  The  tracts  go  off  by  hundreds.  However, 
I  expect  the  grant  of  another  5000,  and  10,000  Gospel  portions, 

and  shall  be  pretty  well  off.     I  wonder  at  Mr. letting  that 

young  man  be  settled  in  a  French  Roman  Catholic  family — 
perhaps  of  no  religion  whatever ;  he  will  be  exposed  to  count- 
less temptations.  It  is  a  sin  to  put  a  young  man  in  such  a 
position,  and  it  is  aiding  sin  to  have  anything  to  do  with  it." 


Letters  and  Journals .  185 

"  6  EuE  DES  Fetes,  Belleville, 
Monday,  lOth  February,  1878. 
"My  Dear  Mrs.  Bonar,— We  were  at  the  M' All's  on  Satur- 
day night,  and  the  letters  came  in  from  post.  Mr.  M'All 
opened  one  and  read — '  I  regret  that,  owing  to  the  non-arrival  of 
Dr.  T.  from  Kome,  I  must  fall  back  upon  you,  or  through  you, 
your  friend  Mr.  Dodds,  to  supply  the  pulpit  in  the  American 
church  to-morrow. — Yours,  &c.'  Blank  dismay  on  all  faces. 
I  said  I  thought  I  might  manage  it.  Mr.  M'All  said  gravely — 
*  You  must  consider  it,'  and  handed  me  the  note  to  read.  We 
discussed  the  difficulty  letter  in  hand,  and  so  willing  was  I  to 
believe  it  that  it  was  some  time  ere  I  noticed  that  it  was  a  letter 
announcing  a  cheque  for  500  francs  !  Mr.  M'AII  had  been 
amusing  himself  at  our  expense  ;  the  cause  of  his  being  in  such 
a  funny  mood  was  the  arrival  of  this  cheque,  and  of  the  Edin- 
burgh one  for  ^195,  which  letter  he  also  tried  to  palm  off  on  us 
as  a  telegram  announcing  the  failure  of  one  of  the  speakers. 
Of  course  we  had  a  considerable  amount  of  laughing,  but  mostly 
of  real  joy  and  thankfulness  to  our  bountiful  God  and  Father 
for  such  a  gift.  We  were  just  beginning  to  be  in  difficulties  ; 
the  balance  was  nearly  exhausted,  and  the  Salle  Evangelique 
and  its  expenses  looming  in  the  distance  ;  and  so,  during  the 
past  few  days,  just  when  we  were  most  in  need,  we  have  had 
sent  to  us  nearly  ^300.  Another  subscription  of  £100  came  in 
from  London  ;  it  came  through  a  chance  meeting  of  two  friends 
in  London  with  a  French  pastor  ;  the  Mission  was  spoken  of 
and  the  <£100  came.  You  said  read  Ps.  ciii.  That  was  my 
Psalm  from  Sunday  last — at  least,  the  first  verse, — and  I  had 
printed  it  in  my  journal  in  Hebrew  at  the  end  of  my  account  of 
Sunday's  work.  I  had  just  heard  of  the  decided  conversion  of 
a  woman  at  Grenelle.  She  has  broken  with  the  Koman  Catholic 
Church,  not  being  able  to  go  there  any  longer.  She  said  ;  *  La 
lutte   a   ete  longue,    mais   c'est   terminee   maintenant.'*     The 

*  "This  was  our  old  servant,  'Fanny.'     She  went  home  about  a 


1 86         Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

other  thing  which  gave  me  joy  was  the  discovery  that 
my  words  on  that  Sunday  evening  had  been  directed  by  the 
Spirit  specially  for  a  man  and  his  whole  family  who  had 
come  there,  his  wife  for  the  first  time.  The  man  was  in  great 
distress  and  remorse,  and  had  been  living  in  sin,  and  Mdme. 
Jouey  had  been  praying  for  some  word  to  be  directed  to  him 
that  evening  about  the  need  of  the  new  birth,  and  she  was 
struck  on  hearing  me  announce  the  need  of  conversion  as  my 
subject,  and  especially  the  text,  *  Si  vous  ne  vous  convertissez 
pas,  vous  perirez  tons.*  So  you  see  we  had  reason  to  say  '  Bless 
the  Lord,  0  my  soul.'  " 

To  his  brother : — 

"  6  Rue  des  Fetes,  14i/fc  Marc\  18V8. 

"  For  myself,  I  am  not  learning  fluent  conversational  French 
so  quickly  as  I  should  like,  partly  because  I  have  had  a  great 
deal  to  do  in  arranging  the  library  and  other  business,  and  partly 
because  one  hears  so  many  strange  accents  in  the  meetings ;  the 
people  speak  most  indistinct  French,  and  it  will  require  some 
time  to  understand  them  perfectly.  I  can  follow  any  speaker 
now,  and  have  addressed  meetings  of  every  kind,  but  I  always 
have  my  notes  with  me.  In  the  French  language  there  are 
a  great  many  delicate  shades  of  meaning  and  niceties  of  phrase, 
and  these  can  only  be  learned  by  practice.  I  can  follow  a 
speaker  without  exertion,  but  there  is  always  an  exertion  of 
thinking  when  I  speak  in  French,  excepting  the  commonest 
phrases. 

"  Our  work  is  very  great,  when  one  considers  these  twenty- 
two    stations   and  more  than    one  hundred   meetings  a-week 

year  ago,  having  shown  in  illness,  feebleness,  and  want,  the  most 
cheerful  spirit  of  confidence  in  God  I  ever  saw — talking  to  all 
around  her  of  her  Saviour — labouring  to  bring  them  to  the 
meetings, — offering  to  read  the  Bible  to  them; — and  not  without 
many  instances  of  success." 


Letters  and  yournals.  187 


altogether  in  them  ; — and  then  the  rent  for  them  all :  the  Salle 
Evang^lique,  which  is  to  be  close  to  the  Exhibition,  will  entail  a 
great  deal  of  additional  expense.  My  library  is  now  organised, 
and  I  am  not  so  busy  with  it ;  but  correspondence,  and  addresses 
to  prepare,  which  I  hardly  got  done  before,  fill  up  the  time." 

"  14i/fc  March^  1878. — I  forgot  to  say  that  Ulfilas  is  stuck  ;  the 
only  thing  I  have  done  to  it  was  to  deliver  the  enclosed  lecture. 
I  had  a  large  audience,  who  seemed  much  delighted  with  the 
novelty  of  the  subject.  I  have  hardly  had  even  time  to  regret 
my  not  having  touched  it,  so  you  maij  imagine  how  busy  I  have 
been.  Now  that  I  am  well  acquainted  with  my  work,  and  have 
completed  the  organisation  of  the  library,  I  have  some  hopes, 
though  these  are  faint  enough,  of  getting  something  done. 
I  don't  intend  relinquishing  it, — my  only  fear  is  lest  some  one 
publish  a  life  before  mine.  ...  I  have  a  Greek  class  twice 
a-week,  composed  of  the  workers  in  the  Mission,  and  we  are 
going  to  read  the  Epistle  to  the  Galatians.  It  is  quite  a  variety 
in  the  work." 

"  Rue  des  Fetes,  2nd  May^  1878. — My  work  is  very  press- 
ing just  now.  I  get  home  often  at  one  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
and  I  have  no  moment  that  I  can  call  my  own,  except  I  take  it 
out  of  the  small  hours.  I  am  on  the  committee  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Alliance,  and  our  Salle  Evangelique  takes  not  only  our 
time,  but  our  wits.  Mr.  M'All  has  been  ill,  and  mission-work 
comes  on  me.  Last  night  was  a  time  of  regular  carnival,  and 
yet  the  crowds  were  most  orderly.  Fancy  every  street  and 
almost  every  window  decorated  with  flags,  and  lit  up  with 
Chinese  lanterns — the  young  men  were  rushing  about  with 
umbrellas  over  their  heads  and  Chinese  lanterns  attached  to 
each  spoke,  very  odd.  I  send  you  a  map  with  our  Salle, 
marked.  It  is  a  splendid  building,  double,  of  wood,  white  and 
dark  facings,  and  is  in  the  Swiss  chalet  style.  We  open  on 
Sunday." 


Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


We  resume  the  narrative : — 

"  The  first  year  was  spent  entirely  in  Paris,  for  no  holiday 
was  taken,  and  no  provincial  stations  as  yet  existed.  But  there 
was  plenty  of  variety  in  the  work,  it  did  not  go  on  in  the  same 
grooves  from  month  to  month,  as  home-work  does.  No  sooner 
did  one  appear  getting  into  something  like  a  beaten  track,  when 
some  new  enterprise  would  seem  called  for,  or  the  departure  of 
some  worker  would  throw  all  out  of  gear.  When  his  friends 
would  ask  him  when  his  time  for  rest  was  to  come,  he  would 
reply,  'Presently,  but  I  must  get  over  this  emergency  first.' 
And  there  seemed  always  'an  emergency'  in  the  Mission  from 
the  first  day  to  the  last. 

"  Such  a  period  of  high  pressure  for  Mr.  Dodds,  as  for  all  the 
Paris  workers,  was  the  summer  of  1878  ;  when  the  efforts  of  the 
Salle  Evangelique  in  connection  with  the  Exhibition,  called 
him  from  Belleville  to  the  Trocadero,  a  distance  of  six  miles, 
— twice,  or  sometimes  three  times  a-week.  Two  meetings  were 
held  in  the  Salle,  each  day,  with  an  hour's  interval,  so  as  to 
gather  in  the  passers-by  at  difi'erent  hours  ;  so  that  leaving  home 
at  half-past  one,  he  did  not  get  back  till  eight ;  even  if  he  did 
not  (as  was  often  the  case)  go  on  to  some  other  station  for  the 
evening.  His  Saturdays,  which  had  hitherto  been  kept  sacred, 
were  taken  up  like  other  days  by  this  work." 

From  a  very  brief  diary  which  he  kept  I  give 
the  following  extracts  at  random.  They  are  abrupt 
but  no  less  striking : — 

"25i/fc  M"a?/,  1878. — Saturday.  Salle  at  five  o'clock.  Signor 
Peretto  spoke  ;  271  present ;  most  attentive.  Without  much 
prayer  all  our  eff'orts  useless. 

"Sunday,  2Qth. — Eight  hundred  people  heard  the  Gospel 
to-day.     (That  is  in  the  two  meetings  held  in  the  Salle  EvaU' 


Letters  and  Journals.  189 


gelique   at  three  and   five.     See   'White   Fields  of    France/ 
page  200.)* 

"  Wh  J'it?ie.— Saturday.  To  Salle.  A  man  at  the  end  asked 
me  if  he  could  get  the  prayer  with  which  I  closed  the 
meeting.  (It  was  the  Lord's  prayer.)  He  thought  it  so 
beautiful. 

"  ^ih  June. — Mr.  Paterson's  in  the  morning  ;  met  Professor 
Johnstone,  who  came  home  with  me,  and  went  to  La  Chapelle 
at  five  o'clock.  Saillens  and  self  spoke  on  La  porte  etroite. 
Evening,  Grenelle.  Large  meeting  ;  200  present ;  spoke  to  a 
man  at  the  end,  anxious  ;  got  home  late. 

"  I6th  June. — Sabbath  morning.  Professor  Johnstone,  *  Let 
the  word  of  Christ  dwell  in  you.'  Very  good.  Grenelle,  very 
large  meetings.     0  Lord,  bless  this  day's  work. 

^^19th  June. — Rivoli  in  the  evening.  Le  vrai  chemin. 
M.  Th.  Monod  ;  great  meeting  ;  had  a  most  interesting  conver- 
sation with  one  man  while  others  listened.  Infidelity  the  great 
obstacle.     Pray. 

"  20th  June. — A  very  good  meeting.  Three  spoke  to  me  at 
the  end.  French,  Italian,  and  German.  The  last  seemed 
deeply  touched.     Pray. 

"  21st  June. — Man  spoke  to  me  ;  wishes  to  become  Protestant; 
signs  of  seeking  after  truth.     Pray. 

"  22ncl  June.— Salle.     Sainton,  first  hour.    M.  Pasteur  Weiss 


*  Hitherto  it  had  been  Hterally  and  almost  solely  "to  the  poor" 
that  the  Gospel  had  been  preached  in  Paris.  But  in  connection 
with  the  Salle  Evange'lique  many  of  a  different  and  more  cultured 
class  were  reached.  The  records  of  that  place  will  never  be  known 
on  earth.  Many  came  from  distant  provinces  for  a  day  or  two  and 
carried  the  truth  to  their  homes  ; — men  of  science  ;  sceptics  who 
had  gone  round  the  world  with  the  sneer,  "What  is  truth?"  on 
their  lips  ;  refined  and  Catholic  ladies  who  had  found  no  peace  in 
their  religion— heard  there  what  turned  the  course  of  their  whole 
lives. 


190        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

second.  Spoke  again  to  a  man  to  whom  I  had  given  a  Testa- 
ment.    He  says  his  sins  are  effaces  (blotted  out).     Pray. 

"  23r(Z  June. — Grenelle  ;  large  meeting  :  280  in  and  around 
inner  door  ;  got  home  late.  What  God  needs, — pure  vessels  for 
use  in  the  sanctuary. 

"8i^  July. — Grenelle  ;  "la  porte  etroite  ;"  poor  girl  stood  at 
the  end  weeping  bitterly  for  sin  ;  had  dropped  in  from  a  ball ; 
leading  a  sinful  life  ;  took  her  home  with  us." 

These  brief  extracts  give  some  idea  of  his  daily 
life  and  work,  during  his  first  year.  Belleville  was 
his  home,  but  Paris  was  his  sphere.  From  the 
beginning  his  hands  were  full  of  work;  but  there 
was  less  of  pressure  on  all  sides,  less  of  bustle  and 
worry.  Compared  with  after  years,  this  was  a  time 
of  quiet ;  and  in  his  peaceful  home  in  Rue  des  Fetes, 
with  its  pleasant  garden  and  tall  chestnut  trees, 
he  spent  many  a  happy  day :  going  out  in  the  morn- 
ing to  sow  his  seed  and  returning  at  night  to  pray 
over  the  labours  of  the  day.  Each  subsequent  year 
brought  with  it  increasing  work,  and  specially 
increasing  correspondence.  Few  could  have  con- 
ducted the  correspondence  more  easily  and  rapidly 
than  he  did ;  still  it  was  beginning  to  be  not  only 
a  burden  in  itself,  but  a  burden  which  greatly 
drained  his  strength  and  impeded  his  mission-work. 
Sometimes  it  was  English,  sometimes  French;  but 
he  was  equally  at  home  in  the  latter,  as  in  the 
former.     Nay,  I  sometimes  noticed  that  his  English 


Letters  afid  Journals. 


191 


idioms,  both  in  writing  and  speaking,  were  giving 
way  before  his  French,  quite  unconsciously ;  and  in 
a  short  English  tract,  which,  just  two  months  before 
his  death  he  asked  me  to  revise,  I  had  to  correct 
his  English!  French  words  and  forms  of  speech 
had  crept  in ;  so  thoroughly  had  his  acquired  lan- 
guage taken  possession  of  him. 

To  give  the  reader  an  idea  of  the  extent  of  the 
Paris  work,  during  the  first  year  of  Mr.  Dodds' 
entrance  in  it,  I  subjoin  a  summary  of  the  work  for 
1878,  to  which  year  most  of  the  above  extracts 
refer. 

PARIS. 
French  Meetings  for  Adults,  1st  Jan.  to  31st  Dec.  1878 

Aggregate  attendance  at  ditto 

German  Meetings  (15)  at  Salle  Evangelique,  attendance 

Adult  Bible  Classes     . 

Aggregate  attendance  at  ditto 

French  Prayer  Meetings 

Attendance  at  ditto 

Aggregate  Adult  attendance  d 

Sunday-School  Meetings 

Attendance  at  ditto 

Children's  Week-day  Services 

Attendance  at  ditto 

Young  People's  Meetings  and  Juvenile  Bible  Classes 

Attendance  at  ditto 

Aggregate  attendance  of  the  Young  during  the  year 
Total  of  Religious  Meetings  in  Paris  during  the  year 
Total  attendance  at  Religious  Meetings  in  Paris  during 

the  year 556,218 


g  the  year 


2,788 

421,370 

250 

249 

13,374 

151 

10,365 

446,108 

800 

41,708 

945 

42,981 

469 

25,421 

110,110 

5,471 


192        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


Psalmody  Meetings 250 

Attendance  at  ditto 43,710 

Several  Classes  for  Teaching  English  are  conducted 
weekly. 

Ouvroirs  for  poor  women  are  established  in  seven  of  the 
stations. 

Girls'  Industrial  Schools  are  established  at  Les  Ternes 
and  Gare  d'lvry,  attended  by  an  average  of  160 
per  week. 

Two  Rooms  are  lent  for  Young  Men's  Christian  Asso- 
ciations. 

Domiciliary  Visits  paid,  above 2,200 

New    Testaments   earned  by  Regular  attendance   at 

Adult  Meetings 1,400 

Bibles  and  Testaments  sold,  given,  and  circulated 
(exclusive  of  those  lent  from  Libraries  and 
Children's  Rewards) 100 

Books  issued  from  French  Lending  Libraries,  including 

120  Bibles,  &c 2,781 

Scripture  portions  distributed 26,203 

Tracts,  &c.,  distributed  (including  48,000  at  Salle 
Evangelique,  and  600  in  various  languages  on  a 
Continental  Tour) 151,535 

Weekly  Prayer  Meeting  of  the  Workers  of  the  Mission 
held  at  the  Mission  Office,  Belleville. 


List  of  Stations  in  Paris. 

Sittings. 

Salle  Evang^lique     .     Place  du  Trocadero,  Passy  .     .     .  520 
Centre  de  Paris    .     .       37  Rue  de  Rivoli  (corner  of  the 

Rue  de  la  Tacherie)  .     .     .  270 

Belleville    ....     102  Rue  de  Belleville 400 

Montmartre     ...       56  Boulevard  Ornano     ....  550 


Belleville. 


J93 


Faubourg  St.  Antoine 
Batignolles  .     . 
Les  Ternes  .     . 
La  Chapelle     . 
Menilmontant . 
Quartier  Latin 
La  Villette  .     . 
Popincourt  .     . 
Vaugirard   .     . 
Grenelle .     .     . 
Gare  d'lvry 
Bercy     .     .     . 
Quartier  du  Teiup 
Batignolles .     . 
Montsouris .     . 
La  Villette .     . 
Puteaux .     .     . 
Boulogne-sur-Seine 
Montparnasse .     . 

Tota 


Sittings. 

142  Eue  du  Faubourg  St.  Antoine  372 

4  Eue  des  Dames 387 

53  Avenue  de  Wagrani ....  202 

29  Boulevard  de  Chapelle  ...  204 

90  Boulevard  de  Menilmontant  .  184 

72  Eue  Monge 190 

90  Eue  d'Allemagne 310 

123  Boulevard  Voltaire   ....  200 

161  Boulevard  de  Vaugirard     .     .  162 

59  Eue  Letellier 180 

169  Boulevard  de  la  Gare     ...  192 

74  Boulevard  de  Bercy  .     .     .     .  161 

77  Eue  Chariot 200 

15  Eue  de  la  Condamine    .     .     .  120 

21  Eue  de  la  Tombe-Issoire    .     .  78 

93  Eue  de  Meaux 80 

5  Eue  Saulnier 150 

70  Eue  d'Aguesseau      ....  80 

139  Eue  de  Eennes 233 

d  number  of  Sittings  in  Paris     .     .  5425 


In  the  report  of  the  Mission  for  1878  Mr.  Dodds 

records  several  incidents,  which  had  come  under  his 

own  notice.     We  quote  a  few  : — 

"Met  at  the  reunion  of  G a  man  newly  out  of  the 

hospital.  There  he  had  made  the  acquaintance  of  another 
patient,  who  told  him  of  the  reunions,  and  made  a  dying 
request  that  he  would  go  there  when  he  got  well.  Before  he 
left,  his  friend  died.  He  had  been  an  habitu6  of  the  reunion  at 
La  Chapelle,  and  expired  in  the  hospital  after  much  suffering. 
His  Christian  patience  and  character  seem  to  have  struck  this 
man,  who  said  to  us,  *  I  never  heard  him  complain,  and  when  he 


194        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

died  he  was  happy.'  Thus  instances  of  good  done  at  the  meetings 
are  only  known  after  a  time,  and  many  remain  unknown. 

"  Met  at  the  Salle  Evangelique  a  liberated  Communist  who 
had  learned  to  read  during  his  imprisonment,  being  taught  by  a 
well-known  savant,  a  free-thinker.  By  this  means  the  man  had 
been  enabled  to  read  the  Bible. 

"  Have  been  much  interested  in  an  intelligent  ouvrier  at 

M .      He    reads    attentively  his    Bible,  and   a  new  light 

seems  breaking  into  his  soul.  In  a  recent  letter,  he  says, 
'  I  have  read  much  in  the  Gospels,  and  see  clearly  that  only  there 
i8  to  be  found  the  truth  and  the  religion  which  speaks  to  us  of 
the  mercy  of  our  Saviour.' 

"  At  the station  I  met  often  a  whole  family,  the  father 

decorated  with  medals  for  saving  lives  from  drowning,  who 
eagerly  listen  to  the  addresses,  and  converse  at  the  end  on  what 
they  have  heard.  They  sometimes  gather  their  neighbours 
together  to  sing  the  hymns.  We  have  reason  to  believe  that 
the  mother  is  a  decided  Christian. 

"  Miss told  me  of  a  girl  who  found  one  of  the  small 

papers  of  invitation  to  the  Kue  de  Eivoli  reunion  crumpled  up 
at  the  bottom  of  a  waste-basket.  This  brought  her  to  the 
meeting,  and,  finally,  to  Christ.  I  knew  her,  and  can  add  my 
testimony  to  this.  She  is  now  in  a  Prefet's  family  in  the  south 
of  France,  who  sent  a  message  to  Dr.  Fisch  saying  that  he  would 
be  glad  if  a  meeting  were  opened  in  his  village. 

"  Mr.  Dodds  adds  most  interesting  particulars  respecting  the 
ouvrier,  an  extract  from  whose  letter,  written  in  the  hospital, 
appears  on  a  previous  page.  He  states  that,  when  a  very 
young  man,  seeing  a  Bible  in  the  hands  of  a  friend,  he  saved  up 
money  enough  to  buy  one,  which  he  read  eagerly  and  with  con- 
viction of  its  truth.  Coming  to  Paris,  where  he  was  required  to 
work  all  the  Sunday,  he  became  quite  neglectful,  and  for  nearly 
twenty  years,  God's  Book  remained  unopened.  He  thus  writes 
respecting  his  own  history  :  '  Though  I  suffer  much,  I  am  far 


Belleville.  195 


happier  than  when  I  lived  far  from  God,  and  was  a  worldling  in 
good  health.  It  is  in  these  meetings  that  the  Saviour  has  given 
me  the  grace  that  I  needed  to  give  myself  to  Him.'  Some  of  his 
expressions,  both  in  writing  and  when  friends  visit  him  in  the 
lonely  room  which,  in  all  likelihood,  he  will  not  leave  again,  are 
very  striking,  especially  those  evidencing  his  patience  and  con- 
tentment. For  example,  '  Sometimes  I  suffer  much,  but  I  have 
my  bed ;  my  Saviour  suffered  on  the  cross,  but  I  have  my  bed.' 
'  Since  I  found  peace  with  God  by  the  grace  which  flows  from 
the  Saviour's  blood,  it  seems  to  me  that  my  bodily  sufferings 
are  more  easily  borne.  My  Saviour  !  to  me  he  is  the  Pearl  of 
great  price  and  a  faithful  comforter.  How  happy  should  I  be 
to  speak  to  crowds  of  the  love  of  this  Saviour  for  men !  On  the 
first  day  of  1879,  he  writes,  'The  Lord  comforts  me  always, 
though  I  suffer  much  at  present.  I  wish  I  had  health  and  life 
now,  for  I  have  been  too  long  far  away  from  God,  and  to-day, 
when  I  would  work  in  the  Saviour's  vineyard,  I  am  unable.'" 

The  first  year  was  strictly  Paris  work.  It  ended 
with  the  opening  of  the  23rd  station  in  that  city — 
in  the  Rue  de  Rennes,  by  Mr.  M'All  and  M.  Theodore 
Monod.  It  soon,  however,  became  evident  that  the 
work  could  not  be  confined  to  the  capital.  Invita- 
tions were  coming  in  on  all  sides  from  various  quar- 
ters of  the  kingdom ;  and  Mr.  M'All,  with  that  large 
heart  which  would  fain  have  embraced  every  city  and 
village,  from  the  English  Channel  to  the  P3n:enees 
had  been  considering  how  he  should  respond  to  these 
urgent  messages. 

To  Lyons  he  first  responded.     Its  urgencies  were 
the  greatest. 


196        Memoir  of  Rev,  G.  T.  Dodds. 

But  before  passing  outside  the  walls  of  Paris, 
I  wisli  to  give  some  extracts  from  Mr.  Dodds'  diary,  as 
presenting  a  specimen  of  tlie  mission- work  at  that  time. 
The  jottings  are  very  brief,  like  some  which  we  have 
already  given.  But  they  let  us  see  how  the  work 
moved  on ;  how  the  labourers  went  about  their  daily 
toil ;  and  how  Mr.  Dodds'  own  hands  were  filled. 
Only  those,  however,  who  know  the  stations,  and 
their  localities  can  judge  of  the  amount  of  fatigue 
which  these  jottings  reveal.  It  will  be  seen  that 
even  his  Saturdays  began  to  be  encroached  upon. 


"  ^th  January  (18*78). — Sunday.  At  home  in  the  morning. 
Grenelle,  Sagnol  and  Sinel.  Ornano,  evening.  Spoke  on 
*Etes  vous  pret.'  Pasteur  A.  Fisch  and  M.  Bonhoure  spoke. 
Spoke  to  a  woman  at  Grenelle,  she  seemed  seeking  the  truth. 
Heard  of  a  most  real  conversion  at  Ornano ;  saw  the  woman, 
she  had  come  for  two  years  ;  changed  two  months  ago. 

"  1th  January. — Monday.  Mission  and  library  work  during 
the  day.  Went  in  afternoon  and  called  on  Mr.  Paterson  (Scotch 
church)  with  M.     Evening,  Gare  d'lvry ;  very  attentive  people. 

"  ^ih  January. — Tuesday.  Not  well  during  the  day,  went  to 
Chariot  in  the  evening.  Pastor  Ambresin  and  M.  Jacquise. 
Was  not  fit  for  much,  and  was  glad  to  get  home. 

"IK^,  January. — Library  work  during  part  of  the  day. 
Workers'  meeting  in  afternoon ;  small,  but  refreshing.  Went 
to  Rivoli  in  the  evening.     Greek  class  in  the  morning.* 


*  He  undertook  to  teach  the  workers  to  read  the  Greek  Testa- 
ment, but,  after  some  months,  time  failed,  and  it  was  given  up. 


Letters  and  yournals.  197 

"13^A-  January. — Sunday.  Grenelle.  Interesting  meeting. 
Some  strange  ideas  in  some  of  the  people's  minds ;  pray  for 
them.  Kue  d'Allemagne,  evening.  Mr.  A.  Fisch  and  self. 
'Etes  vous  pret.'  Liked  the  meeting.  Oh  for  results.  Give 
me  more  faith — daily  desire  for  holiness  of  life,  and  longing  for 
the  salvation  of  souls. 

"  14f^  January. — Monday.  Morning  work,  library,  &c. 
Called  with  M.  on  Pastor  Robin.  M.  Robin  at  home,  interest- 
ing conversation  on  Mr.  M'All's  work.  Called  at  M.  Rouilly's 
also.  Evening,  Gare  d'lvry.  Mr.  Arthaud  and  self.  Read  from 
sermon  of  Mr.  Moody,  'Jesus  Christ  Cherche  le  pecheur.' 
People  most  attentive,  signs  of  interest  and  seeking.  0  Lord, 
deepen  it,  make  the  interest  real. 

"  ^Oth  January." — (This  week  his  new  address  was  Conversion, 
delivered  at  diflferent  places — twice  on  Sunday.)  "Grenelle. 
Spoke  on  Conversion  I.     Ornano,  evening,  do. 

"  21s^  January. — Monday.  Gare  d'lvry,  evening.  Spoke  on 
Conversion,  1st  part.  Pastor  Ambresin  came  late ;  a  full, 
earnest  audience.  I  hope  to  see  fruit  of  this.  Gave  A.  N. 
Testament  for  cartes  received  at  Gare  d'lvry. 

"  227icZ  January. — Mission  and  library  work.  Evening,  Rue 
Chariot,  Conversion  I. 

"23r(i  January. — Went  to  opening  of  new  station  at  La 
Chapelle  with  M.     Fall,  crowded,  and  attentive  meeting. 

"  Mth  January. — Grenelle,  prayer  meeting.  Had  a  talk  with 
a  woman  before  it  began  ;  they  are  too  easily  satisfied  with  their 
conversion.  Saw  M.  B. ;  spoke  to  him.  He  said  he  was 
saved,  and  was  a  Catholic.     I  said,  you  must  be  a  Christian. 

"  2btli  January. — Menilmontant,  large  meeting.  Bible-class 
afterwards  ;  people  most  attentive.  Second  evening  on  subject 
'Bible.' 

"26^/fc  January.— '&eTit  3000  tracts  to  Rivoli. 

"  21th  January. — Sunday.  Preached  in  American  Church, 
morning,  Luke  vii.  49.     Spent  afternoon  at  Mme.  de  Schouled, 


1 98        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

nikow's  with  M. — Grenelle.  The  two  men  were  there  who  had 
wished  to  speak  at  the  meeting.  Said  they  were  converted. 
Soften  and  give  them  broken  hearts,  0  Lord.  Batignolles, 
evening.  Had  tea  with  Miss  M.  and  Miss  C.  before  meeting. 
Eeturned  home  very  tired. 

"28i^  January. — Gare  d'lvry.  Spoke  on  Conversion  II. 
Some  strange  faces  at  the  meeting. 

"  SOfA.  January. — Lectured  in  evening  to  Young  Men's  Christ- 
ian Association  on  Ulfila. 

"  3rd  February. — Sunday.  Grenelle.  Small  meeting.  Spoke 
on  Conversion  11.  Case  of  decided  conversion  of  a  woman. 
She  has  joined  M.  Lepoid's  church,  and  made  an  open  profession 
after  being  in  uncertainty  for  a  year.  Much  cheered  by  this. 
Omano  in  the  evening.  MM.  Eschenauer  and  Fisch.  Spoke 
on  Conversion  II.  Heard  from  Madame  Jouey  of  a  man  there 
in  deep  anxiety  and  remorse.  Some  words  of  my  address 
seemed  to  have  been  directed  by  the  Spirit  for  him.  'Except 
ye  be  converted,'  &c.* 

"  23rd  February. — Saturday.  In  town  on  Mission  business. 
500  Testaments  Kue  Clichy.  250  epistles,  Rue  d'Astorg,  D^pot 
Central.     Met  Dr.  Manning  "  (Eel.  Tr.  Society). 

He  records  regular  meetings  every  evening  (except 
Saturday,  the  afternoon  of  which  was  partly  kept  at 
first  as  a  time  of  rest ;  letter-writing,  or  occasionally 
some  private  literary  work  filling  up  the  day;  the 
evening  often  spent  socially  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M'All). 
Two  meetings  on  Sunday ;  Bible-class  on  Friday ; 
frequent  errands  to  town  on  banking  or  other  business 
— to  see  printers,  booksellers,  &c.     The  time  occupied, 

*At  the  end  of  this  jotting  there  is  a  Hebrew  text,  Ps.  ciii.  1. 
These  short  texts  in  Hebrew  are  written  in  a  very  small  hand,  but 
with  great  neatness  and  accuracy. 


Letters  and  yotiJ^ials.  199 


but  not  over-occupied ;  now  and  then  he  was  forced 
by  illness  to  lie  still  for  a  day  or  two. 

"  3rfZ  March. — Sunday.  Stayed  at  home  in  the  morning,  not 
very  well.  Grenelle, — Sin  el,  and  Long ;  then  went  to  Les  Ternes 
first  time  ;  had  it  all  to  myself.  Gave  'Conversion,'  and  '  J'ai 
garde  un  vif  souvenir  ; '  from  Moody, '  Jesus  Cherche  le  pecheur.' 
Had  to  play  the  organ  too.     Got  home  very  tired. 

"  5th  March. — Tuesday.  Greek  class,  morning  ;  Eue  Char- 
lot,  evening ;  read  from  Moody,  '  Geolier  de  Philippes.' 
Dr.  Bonar  and  Lily  arrived  about  half-past  seven  from  London 
by  Boulogne. 

"  1th  March. — Rivoli.  Dr.  B.  spoke.  Pastor  Fisch  translated 
on  *  The  great  sin  of  man  and  the  great  love  of  God.'  Saw  a 
woman  come  in  who  crossed  herself ;  spoke  to  her  at  end  of 
meeting,  said  she  would  come  back.  Lord,  seek,  and  find,  and 
save.     "Walked  with  Dr.  B.  to  and  from  Eivoli. 

"  8^^  March. — Workers'  meeting.  Dr.  B.  addressed  *  Remem- 
ber that  if  you  are  anxious  for  the  salvation  of  souls  the  Holy 
Spirit  is  not  less  so,'  and  prayed. 

"  9th  March. — In  town  at  douane  for  books  from  London. 

"  lOth  March. — Rue  Royal,  morning.  Dr.  B.  for  Mr.  Hart, 
'  Disciples  filled  with  joy  and  with  the  Holy  Ghost ; '  a  most 
refreshing  service.  Grenelle,  interesting  conversation  with 
some  people  there,  evidence  of  Spirit's  work  in  at  least  three. 
Ornano,  man  mentioned  as  in  great  remorse  ;  3rd  February,  had 
broken  off  his  life  of  sin,  and  has  found  peace,  so  Mme.  Jouey 
thinks  ;  past  week  a  wonderful  week.  Miss  W.  spoke  of  several 
seeking  and  some  who  had  found.     Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul. 

"  l^th  March.— GsiTe  du  Nord  to  see  Dr.  B.  off.  What  a 
happy  time  it  has  been. 

"21si  March. — Thursday.  Grenelle,  prayer  meeting.  Re- 
union, self  and  M.  Cochet.  Repentance.  Attentive.  M.  B .  was 
there,  spoke  to  him.     0  Lord,  deepen  impressions  on  his  heart. 


200        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

"  27^^  March. — Wednesday.  Faubourg  St.  Antoine.  Signer 
Peretto,  and  M.  Christol,  and  self.  Spoke  on  Repentance,  a 
little  extempore.  A  most  delightful  meeting  ;  spoke  to  several 
at  the  end.    One  man,  a  Catholic,  interested  me. 

"  28th  March. — Vaugirard.  Saw  M.  Bertrand  again.  Very 
attentive,  spoke  to  him,  seemed  to  avoid  questions. 

"  29th  March. — Friday.  Rivoli.  Long  conversation  at  end 
with  Ambresin,  who  told  me  of  a  most  intelligent  man,  who  had 
not  been  at  church  for  forty  years  ;  a  Roman  Catholic,  now  reads 
the  New  Testament,  attentive  and  in  earnest.     Pray  for  him. 

"  ZOth  March. — Saturday.  Mission  work,  library,  and  corre- 
spondence.    Evening,  at  home. 

"  3lst  March. — Sunday.  Preached  in  American  chapel — Rue 
de  Berri — text,  *  Simon,  Simon,  Satan  hath  desired  to  have 
thee.'  La  Chapelle  at  five  o'clock.  Les  Ternes,  evening,  read 
from  Moody,  *  Geolier  de  Philippes.' 

"  7th  April. — Sunday.  Crenelle.  Sainton.  Self,  read  from 
Moody,  first  part  of  sermon  on  Excuses.     Ornano,  evening. 

"10<^  April. — Wednesday.  Went  to  Trocadero  with  Mr. 
M'All.  Saw  our  Salle,  so  far  on.  Kiosques  almost  finished. 
Saw  Mr.  Alexander ;  much  interesting  conversation.  Rivoli. 
Sainton  and  M.  Th.  Monod.     Mrs.  Elmslie  arrived  from  India. 

"28i^  April. — Preached  in  morning  at  Rue  Royal  for  Mr. 
Hart.  *  Simon,  Simon,  Satan,'  &c.  Saw  Mr.  Jenkinson  from 
Edinburgh.  Went  to  Rivoli,  afternoon.  Met  Miss  Howard 
there  and  other  friends.  Crenelle,  very  small  meeting.  Ornano, 
evening.* 

^'2Qth  April. — Monday.  Care  d'lvry.  Sainton  and  self. 
First  part  of  history  of  Edward  Summers.  Spoke  to  a  man 
when  giving  Testaments.  He  had  found  peace  at  this  meet- 
ing.    Ps.  ciii.  1. 


*  This  was  one  of  his  full  Sabbaths.     Any  one  acquainted  with 
Paris  will  know  the  great  distances  traversed. 


Letters  and  your^ials.  201 

With  May  began  the  arduous  but  fruitful  work 
of  the  "  Salle  Evangelique  "  at  the  entrance  of  the 
Exhibition.  Already  there  had  been  much  arrange- 
ment required,  and  much  labour  undergone. 

"  ^ik  May. — Gare  d'lvry,  alone.  Eest  of  history  of  Edward 
Summers.  Strange  faces  there.  Interesting  talk  with  a  man  at 
the  end.     Pray  for  him. 

"  8^^  May. — Wednesday.  Opening  of  Salle  for  Alliance  at 
two  o'clock. 

"lli/t  May. — Saturday.  Salle  Evangelique  with  F.  First 
hour,  Pasteur  M.  Weiss.  124  present.  Second,  SaiUens,  very 
good.  164  present.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M'All  came  to  second 
meeting.     Came  home  with  them. 

"  I2th  May.— Salle  at  3  o'clock.  Fourth  meeting.  M.  Robin. 
Sagnol  and  Sainton.  241  present.  At  five,  305  present.  A 
very  good  meeting.  Sainton  spoke  remarkably  well.  We  felt 
the  Spirit's  presence,  and  look  for  a  blessing.  Audience,  passers- 
by  ;  very  attentive.     Ornano,  evening. 

"I7th  May.—Fndaj.  Salle  with  F.  First  meeting  (107). 
M.  Andrieu  good.  Second  meeting.  Abric  (124  people). 
Menilmontant.  M.  Sainton  and  Pastor  Meyer.  Large  meeting. 
Conversation  with  a  man  and  his  wife  at  end.  Pray  for  him. 
107  present.     Bible-class,  37. 

"  6th  June. — Thursday.  Opening  of  new  station  at  Crenelle. 
Went  there  and  arranged  with  Miss  Arbousset  the  texts,  &c. 
A  large  crowded  meeting,  200.  MM.  M'All,  Sautter,  Cochet, 
Saiilens.     People,  many  of  them  new,  but  very  interested. 

There  are  brief  references  in  this  chapter  to  two 
cases  of  conversion,  the  one  of  a  poor  ouvriev,  Eugene 
Petit,  the  other  of  a  girl  who  had  dropped  in  to  one 


202        Memoir  of  Rev,  G,  T.  Dodds. 

of  the  meetings  from  a  ball-room.  These  cases  are 
too  interesting  to  be  thus  slightly  noticed.  First, 
of  the  ouvrier,  referred  to  at  pp.  195  and  196 : — 

This  ouvrier  was  Eugene  Petit,  a  Belgian  by  birth,  an  intelli- 
gent man  and  good  workman,  long  employed  in  one  of  the  large 
sugar-factories  in  Paris.  His  health  suffered,  like  that  of  many, 
from  the  exhausting  heat  he  was  obliged  to  endure  in  his  work, 
and  for  years  he  was  gradually  sinking  in  consumption,  some- 
times in  hospital,  sometimes  resuming  work,  at  last  confined  to 
his  lonely  garret  in  one  of  the  dark,  densely-peopled  tenements 
of  Gare  d'lvry.  There  Mr.  Dodds  often  visited  him,  before  or 
after  his  meeting  in  that  quarter,  and  while  he  grieved  for  the 
poverty  and  pain  which  he  was  always  ready  to  relieve  even 
beyond  his  power,  yet  he  always  came  away  refreshed  and 
gladdened  to  see  how  the  work  of  God  went  on  in  the  soul  of 
the  dying  man.  "  I  have  no  greater  joy  than  to  hear  that  my 
children  walk  in  the  truth,"  said  an  apostle.  And  this  man 
was  one  of  the  first  of  Mr.  Dodds'  spiritual  children.  He 
seemed  to  bear  him  on  his  heart  everywhere.  In  his  letters, 
when  away  from  home,  he  was  constantly  referring  to  him  (see 
those  from  Lyons,  pp.  208,  209.  It  was  in  reference  to  the 
words,  "  Sometimes  I  suffer  much,  but  I  have  my  bed  ;  my 
Saviour  suffered  on  the  cross,  but  I  have  my  bed,"  that  Mr. 
Dodds  wrote  the  following  lines  : — 

Nailed  to  the  Cross,  hung  on  the  racking  tree, 
No  couch  for  Him  whereon  to  rest  and  taste, 
Even  amid  rending  agony,  its  power 
To  calm  the  suffering,  to  soothe  the  pain. 

Nailed  to  the  Cross  for  rae,  no  couch  for  Him, 
Yet  I  have  mine,  though  not  a  bed  of  down, 
I,  wearied,  fainting  here  may  seek  repose. 


Letters  and  journals. 


Nailed  to  the  Cross,  forsook  by  friends,  by  foes 
Jeered  at,  blasphemed,  no  loving  word,  no  friend 
To  comfort,  no  near  hand  to  reach  the  cup 
Up  to  the  fevered  lips  and  quench  His  thirst. 

Nailed  to  the  Cross /or  me,  no  friend  for  Him, 

And  I  lie  here,  often  alone  'tis  true, 

Yet  tasting  ever  and  afresh  His  love 

That  flows  straight  from  Himself,  or  ministered 

Thro'  friends  who  claim  the  holy  fellowship 

Of  heavenly  sympathy  in  earthly  love. 

Nailed  to  the  racking  Cross,  despised,  forsaken, 
No  couch  to  rest  Thee,  mocking  tongues  of  men, 
A  seeming  victory  of  hate  and  hell, 
A  league  of  former  foes  in  common  scorn, 
An  awful  sense  of  loss,  of  dark  abandon  ; 
The  Father's  love  fled  upward  from  the  heart 
Of  His  well-loved  and  only  Son  ;  the  weight, 
Our  heavy  weight,  of  sin  on  Thy  pure  heart. 

All  this  for  me,  and  yet  I  have  my  couch, 
My  friends,  and  far  transcending  all,  Thy  love, 
High  as  the  heavens,  0  Lord,  deep  as  the  sea. 
Thy  love,  0  Lord,  to  all  eternity. 

Then  of  the  poor  girl  mentioned  at  page  190 : — 

This  poor  girl  had  once  been  a  servant  in  a  Christian  family, 
it  turned  out.  Her  mistress's  prayers  had  followed  during  her 
wild  life,  and  her  dying  words  had  been  a  prayer  that  poor 
"  Marie "  might  still  be  found.  Thus  she  had  a  knowledge  of 
the  Bible  and  of  the  sinfulness  of  her  ways  beyond  most ;  and, 
stumbling  into  the  meeting,  accidentally,  not  knowing  where 
she  was  going,  some  words  roused  her  sleeping  conscience  to 
agony,  and,  when  the  meeting  was  over,  she  grovelled  on  the 
floor  in  her  agony,  asking  if  she  could  be  saved.     What  was  to 


204        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 

be  done  at  that  late  hour  of  night  ?  To  send  her  out  into  the 
streets  was  impossible, — to  find  any  safe  home  for  her  then 
equally  so ; — Mr.  Dodds  took  her  home  with  himself.  For- 
tunately, the  old  servant  "  Fanny,"  mentioned  elsewhere,  having 
lately  tasted  the  love  of  God  for  herself,  was  ready  to  receive 
the  poor  wanderer  kindly,  until  a  home  was  found.  Next  day 
she  was  placed  under  Miss  Appia's  care  (Rue  Picpus). 

His  work  in  subsequent  years  was  very  much  of 
the  same  kind  as  is  referred  to  in  the  above  extracts. 
It  was  not  always  work  in  some  respects  congenial  to 
a  scholar.  In  teaching  the  poor  ouvriers  he 
had  to  "come  down"  a  long  way, — much  further 
down  than  in  instructing  a  similar  class  among 
ourselves.  The  simplest  elements,  not  of  religion 
only  but  of  morality,  required  to  be  explained. 
But  his  scholarship  was  no  barrier ;  in  many 
ways  it  was  a  great  help.  Nor  did  the  thought 
ever  enter  his  mind,  while  sitting  down  beside  some 
ignorant  chiffonnier  or  chiffonniere  to  tell  them  that 
there  was  such  a  thing  as  the  love  of  Christ,  that  he 
was  humbling  himself  or  occupying  a  position 
unworthy  of  a  scholar. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

LYONS  —  RETURN  TO  PARIS  —  BORDEAUX  —  OTHER 
TOWNS — VISIT  TO  ENGLAND — RETURN  TO  PARIS 
—SECOND  VISIT  TO  ENGLAND. 

ANY  cities  of  France  were  wakening  up  at 
the  report  of  what  was  doing  in  the  capital. 
A  new  religion  had  begun.  The  English, 
who  in  1870  had  supplied  the  famishing  city  with 
abundance  of  provisions,  had  come  over  with  what 
they  called  "  the  bread  of  life,"  and  were  making 
known  to  the  people  the  Gospel  or  good  news  con- 
cerning the  love  of  Christ.  The  tens  of  thousands 
who  visited  the  Great  Exhibition  from  the  provinces, 
had  carried  back  to  a  thousand  villages  the  tracts  so 
widely  scattered,  and  the  tidings  of  the  Gospel. 

Will  they  not  visit  us  in  the  far-off  provinces  ? 
Will  they  not  bring  the  new  religion  to  us  ?  If  it 
is  good,  let  us  share  it.  We  hear  that  it  tells  of 
liberty,  let  us  hear  about  the  liberty.     It  tells  about 

the  love  of  God,  let  us  hear  of  this  love ;  for  we 

205 


2o6        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

never  heard  from  our  priests  that  God  loved  us,  and 
would  bless  us  freely.  Many  in  Paris  have  got  hold 
of  something  which  they  can  believe,  and  in  believing 
which  they  can  be  happy ; — something  which  super- 
sedes those  ancient  follies  and  modern  misbeliefs, 
which  left  them  without  a  hope.  Will  they  not  send 
this  religion  to  us  ? 

•  Mr.  M'All  hastened  to  their  help.  In  November 
1878,  he  went  to  Lyons,  a  city  of  350,000,  a  home  of 
early  martyrdom, — now  a  seat  of  extreme  Popery,  ex- 
treme infidelity,  and  extreme  democracy.  In  a  few 
weeks  he  succeeded  in  starting  four  stations,  to  which 
another  has  since  been  added.  Returning  to  Paris 
after  a  few  weeks,  he  was  followed  by  Mr.  Dodds, 
who  laboured  there  for  two  months. 

In  regard  to  health,  Mr.  Dodds  found  a  great 
difference  between  Lyons  and  Paris.  The  dryness 
of  the  latter  city  suited  him  well.  The  dampness  of 
the  former  brought  on  attacks  of  fever  and  ague 
taking  away  half  his  strength.  Yet,  in  spite  of 
these,  he  held  on  his  way,  and  found  no  small 
encouragement  in  his  work,  though  the  difficulties 
were  greater  than  in  the  capital.  He  had  more 
opposition  here  from  several  quarters,  and  he  had 
also  a  somewhat  pecidiar  people  to  deal  with.  These 
things,  however,  he  minded  not,  so  long  as  bodily 
health  held  out.    But  the  effect  of  the  moist  climate 


Lyons.  207 

made   him   glad   to   return  to  the   more   congenial 
atmosphere  of  Paris. 

His  work  in  Lyons  was  full  of  interest,  as  his 
letters  and  journals  show.  In  my  former  volume  on 
"  The  White  Fields  of  France,"  I  have  given  extracts 
from  these ;  I  need  not  re-quote  them.  I  give  other 
passages  from  letters  and  journals  which,  though 
fragmentary,  will  show  a  little  of  his  Lyons  work. 

"  23rc?  November,  1878. — Reached  Lyons  about  half-past  four. 
Went  with  Mr.  Ashton  to  Les  Brotteaux  ;  full  meeting  ;  MM. 
Coste,  Duchemin,  Ashton  (who  presided).  I  closed  with 
prayer. 

"  2Uh  November. — Sunday  evening.  Mr.  Ashton  at  La  Guil- 
lotiere,  self  at  Vaise  ;  spoke  on  our  object  in  these  meetings. 
*  Jesus  Christ  est  venu.'     Full  meeting.     Cheering  tokens. 

"  26^/2-  November. — At  La  Guillotiere  with  Mr.  Ashton  arrang- 
ing matters.  Went  up  by  Ficelle  to  Fourviere;*  fine  view;  Alps. 
Gathering  in  evening  at  M.  Monod's  of  workers  ;  good  gather- 
ing ;  I  trust  good  results.  Gave  away  copies  of  '  La  vraie 
paix.' 

"  \st  December. — Simday.  Vaise,  evening  ;  se'!f  on  Chercher 
I'Eternal ;  MM.  Puyroche,  Duchemin ;  very  full ;  had  to  stand 
the  whole  time  ;  people  close  to  me  at  the  platform  ;  very 
noisy ;  but  making  an  appeal  to  '  la  politesse  frangaise,' 
obtained  silence ;  deep  impression.  Lord,  it  is  Thine  own 
work.     Oh  bless  it. 

"  Zrd  December.  —  At  home  all  day,  studying,  reading. 
Advent  of  Christ.  Writing  letters.  Dined  at  M.  Monod's, 
and  spent  a  most  pleasant  evening  there." 

"   Fourviere,  r=  Forum  vetus  of  the  days  of  Trajan. 


2o8        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


"  61  Avenue  de  Noailles, 

Lyons,  25^/^  Novemher,  1878. 

"I  have  been  tired  out  with  journeying,  draught  on  the 
road,  &c.  I  have  been  warding  off  influenza  with  arsenic  and 
chinchona  bark.  Lyons  is  damp  ;  two  rivers,  and  hills  steep 
and  close.  Yesterday  and  to-day  a  violent  gale  of  wind,  but 
oh,  so  soft  and  warm  ;  it  is  like  the  sirocco  at  Eome,  Mr.  Ash- 
ton  says;  streets  therefore  full  of  dust,  and  walking  about 
disagreeable.  The  city  is  fine,  reminding  me  in  some  degree 
of  Edinburgh.  ...  In  the  evening  (yesterday)  I  went  to 
Vaise  ;  second  meeting  there  ;  crowded  and  very  orderly  ;  a 
bright  cheery  room,  and  fair  speakers,  whom  I  had  to  keep  in 
training.  The  young  men  of  the  Christian  Association  seem 
hearty  and  willing  to  learn.  The  room  near  us  in  this  avenue, 
is  very  pretty,  papered  and  brightly  lighted.  F.'s  texts  are 
capital — show  well.  Already  we  have  met  with  some  interest- 
ing incidents,  and  are  much  encouraged.  We  need  much 
prayer.  We  are  more  alone  here  than  in  Paris.  There  are 
few  helpers,  but  we  must  get  them  stirred  up. 

"  28^/t  November. — Mr.  A.  left  this  morning,  and  I  am  alone 
and  rather  desol^.  On  Tuesday  Mr.  A.  and  I  went  up  by  the 
*  Ficelle '  *  to  La  Fourviere,  &c.  Tuesday  night  we  all  met 
the  workers  at  M.  Monod's  (brother  of  Theodore),  and  spent 
a  very  pleasant  evening  ;  only  they  were  all  very  distinct  in 
saying  that  they  cannot  carry  on  the  work.  Well,  perhaps 
not,  but  I  am  determined  to  keep  them  at  it." 


"  61  Avenue  de  Noailles, 

Lyons,  1st  December,  1878. 
"  I  was  grieved  to  hear  of  Eugene  Petit ;  do  take  him  some 
wine  and  give  him  some  money ;   he  must,  indeed,  be  very 

*  Ficelle,  =:  twine  or  thread.     The  ficelle  is  the  rope  which  draws 
carriages  up  the  steep  incline. 


Lyons.  209 


low.     I  don't  forget  him,  and  tlie  many  others  whom  I  long 
for — their  salvation  and  freedom  from  sin. 


"  61  Avenue  de  Noailles,  Lyons, 
Ehone,  Zrd  December,  1878. 

"  So  glad  F.  had  seen  Eugene  Petit ;  what  he  said  was 
beautiful.  I  am  well  and  almost  rid  of  my  influenza,  but 
Sunday  night  brought  a  bad  headache.  I  was  at  Vaise — such 
a  meeting.  I  had  to  stand  the  whole  time,  and  people  were 
crowding  round  as  close  as  could  be.  They  were  very  noisy 
at  first,  but  I  said  that  in  Scotland  we  had  heard  much  of 
*  la  politesse  frangaise,'  and  I  hoped  they  were  not  going  to 
ruin  that  reputation.  The  consequence  was  that  they  were 
perfectly  quiet,  and  the  audience  themselves  twice  checked  a 
tendency  to  make  a  noise.  I  go  to-night  to  M.  Monod's  to 
talk  with  him  about  various  matters. 

"  This  is  a  cold,  miserable  day — hills  white  with  snow  round 
Lyons.  On  dit  that  there  are  no  bright  days  till  January. 
The  weather  is  quite  unlike  the  climate  of  Paris." 


"7iy^  December. — I  have  been  up  at  La  Croix  Pousse,  but 
have  not  got  much  done  as  yet.  What  a  bloody  history  this 
town  has.  Mr.  Neilson,  a  friend  here  of  our  work,  gave  me 
a  small  history  of  Lyons,  or  rather  of  the  Church  of  Lyons, 
which  I've  been  reading.  I  must  try  and  write  something  on 
the  past  as  well  as  present.  Its  history  is  interesting ;  the 
fact  that  the  Vandals,  and  other  Gothic  tribes  came  thus  far, 
makes  me  feel  quite  friendly  to  this  place  ;  and  if  I  had  time 
to  ransack  libraries,  surely  I  might  get  some  MS.  of  that  grand 
old  feUow  Wulfila ! 

"  Eugene  Petit's  letter  is  beautiful,  such  a  cheerful,  uncom- 
plaining disposition  ;  I  am  sure  he  is  growing  in  grace." 

P 


2IO        Memoh'  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 


"Lyons,  17th  December,  1878, 

"The  meetings  go  on  splendidly,  malgre  the  lack  of 
sjDeakers ;  however,  M.  Dardier  of  Geneva  comes  next  week, 
and  I  expect  some  other  help,  and  hope  to  manage.  La  Croix 
Eoiisse  is  to  be  opened  on  Saturday.  I  am  going  to  have  a 
rehearsal  of  hymns  the  night  before." 

"Lyons,  2lst  December,  1878. 

"I  was  at  La  Croix  Rousse  the  other  day,  and  it  was  a 

veritable  voyage — nothing  sufficiently  ready  at  that  station, 

paint  not  dry  in  time,  and  workmen  equally  slow  ;  so  I  have 

to  put  it  off  till  Tuesday ;  and  M.  de  Watte ville  will  be  gone." 

"Lyons,  Thursday,  2Qlh  December,  1878. 

"  Tuesday  evening. — We  opened  La  Croix  Rousse.  I  went 
up  for  the  third  time  in  the  evening,  and  had  to  go  to  the 
Eglise  libre  Chapelle,  a  little  distance  off,  and  with  another 
man,  transport  an  organ  to  the  salle — the  one  I  ordered  not 
having  been  sent;  the  gas  indeed  was  finished  only  an 
hour  or  two  before  the  meeting.  We  had  not  a  very 
large  meeting,  about  130,  but  it  will  increase,  as  there  were 
not  many  passers-by,  and  we  had  not  the  gas  outside.  The 
people  were  quiet. 

"  I  have  been  at  three  Christmas-trees — one  on  Sunday 
(don't  be  shocked)  and  two  yesterday — and  all  in  church. 
This  is  a  German  custom,  and  has  become  more  common  here 
since  the  war,  so  many  Alsatians  and  Lorrainers  having  come 
to  Lyons.  It  is  a  sort  of  soiree  given  to  the  children  of  the 
Sunday  and  so-called  ragged  schools,  these  latter  being 
often  poor,  but  generally  children  of  Roman  Catholic  parents. 
I  was  asked  to  speak  on  Sunday  to  them,  and  was  introduced 
as  *  une  surprise,'  and  like  Jack-in-the-box  astonished  them  by 
my  appearance.   It  was  a  good  occasion  for  evangelising,  as  there 


Lyons. 


21  I 


"were  a  great  many  people  there  who  never  come  to  church, 
Eoman  or  Protestant.  Then  bonbons,  &c.,  were  distributed, 
and  I  came  away.  There  were  two  large  trees  covered  with 
ornaments,  and  lit  up  with  small  candles — two  men  with 
sponges  on  a  long  pole  squashed  any  candle  that  attempted  a 
blaze.  I  could  not  help  feeling  that,  though  there  were 
several  most  respectable  pastors  there,  I  was  assisting  at  some 
heathen  ceremony,  especially  when  the  children  sung,  "  0  hmu 
Sapin "  (0  beautiful  fir-tree)  it  looked  like  an  act  of  worship. 
Of  course  you  are  both  sufficiently  learned  to  know  that  the 
Christmas-tree  is  an  old  affair, — a  custom  of  our  most  honour- 
able forefathers,  the  Teutons  and  Northmen, — and  that  it 
exists  everywhere  in  Germany." 


To  his  parents  : — 

"Lyons,  Qth  January,  1878. 

"  We  have  finer  weather  now,  but  it  has  been  frightful ; 
wind,  rain,  mist,  and  half-melted  snow,  the  rivers  swollen,  and 
neither  omnibus  nor  steamboat,  so  one  has  to  walk  to  most  of 
the  meetings,  and  they  are  crowded,  crammed  ;  and  sometimes 
the  concierges,  who  resemble  beadles  in  their  perception  of 
what  is  necessary,  light  an  immense  fire  on  a  very  close  even- 
ing ;  and  what  with  singing,  speaking,  and  not  daring  to 
refresh  one's  memory  with  notes  if  one  wishes  to  be  listened  to, 
and  keeping  order,  a  meeting  of  one  hour's  length  is  no  small 
thing.  On  the  Christmas  week,  l^esides  my  seven  meetings, 
I  addressed  children  at  three  Christmas-trees  ;  and  went  into 
the  country  on  Christmas-day,  and  addressed  the  people  in  a 
village  at  the  opening  of  a  new  Mission  Hall,  and  then  on 
Sunday  did  what  I  question  if  any  Presbyterian  pastor  ever 
did  before, — at  least  since  Charles  II., — preached  for  Mr. 
Simpson,  the  Episcopalian  minister,  in  his  own  pulpit.  I 
told  him  I  was  glad  that  some  men  recognised  Presbyterian 


212        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 

orders,  and  that  it  used  to  be  so  in  England,  when  Richard 
Hooker  had,  for  colleague  in  the  Temple  Church  in  London, 
a  minister  who  was  only  in  Presbyterian  orders. 

"  The  Christmas-trees  are  quite  an  institution  here.  It  is  a 
thoroughly  German  custom,  and  the  influx  of  German-speak- 
ing French  from  Alsace  and  Lorraine  has  brought  in  the 
custom,  which  is  altogether  a  heathen  one,  as  is  Christmas 
itself.  Indeed  when  in  the  huge  French  temple  here,  the 
children  gathered  round  two  brilliantly  lighted  trees,  and 
sang,  '  0  beau  Sapin,'  I  fancied  myself  many  centuries  back 
assisting  at  some  heathen  rite  of  worship.  One  of  the 
gatherings  was  of  schools  called, '  ecoles  populaires,'  correspond- 
ing almost  to  our  ragged  schools.  The  children  are  ignorant 
and  ragged,  and  their  parents  came  to  the  fete.  It  was  an 
excellent  opportunity  to  evangelise,  there  being  three  hundred 
children,  and  about  seven  or  nine  hundred  grown-up  people 
most  of  whom  hardly  ever  came  near  a  church.  I  told  them 
some  stories,  having  been  introduced  as  une  surprise,  like  Jack- 
in-the-box.  They  answered  questions  like  Scotch  children ; 
their  willingness  to  say  yes  to  everything  was  rather  amusing. 
'  Would  not  you  all  like  to  become  men  ? '  said  Mr.  Monod, 
in  an  appealing  tone.  '  Qui,  monsieur,'  answered  a  whole 
bench  of  bonny  Avee  lassies,  not  much  above  the  ages  of  four 
and  five  years.  During  the  week  I  formed  part  of  a  Commis- 
sion d^ Etude,  for  the  examination  of  a  student  on  trial  for 
ordination  ;  he  has  a  good  memory,  has  studied  under  Pro- 
fessor Godet,  of  Neuchatel,  and  answered  remarkably  well 
during  the  six  hours  of  pretty  close  questioning  to  which  he 
was  subjected.  M.  Duchemin,  son-in-law  of  Dr.  D'Aubigne, 
was  a  capital  examiner  in  Church  history.  People  have  been 
very  kind,  asking  me  to  dejeuner  about  twelve  o'clock. 
I  like  this  better  than  any  other  hour,  as  we  can  leave  early, 
and  it  does  not  take  up  the  whole  evening.  I  lunched  with  M. 
de  Cazenove,  an  old  and  evangelical  French  family.     He  is 


Lyons.  213 

comparatively  young,  and  takes  a  deep  interest  in  the  work 
among  tlie  '  Hantes  Alpes.' 

"  I  have  had  help  from  Geneva,  and  from  Bourg,  a  small 
town  near  Lyons ;  M.  Dardier,  who  is  well-known  in  Scot- 
land, was  with  me  for  five  days,  an  admirable  speaker  for 
the  working-classes.  M.  Eynard,  pastor,  was  here  a  week,  an 
ingenious  man,  able  to  put  a  harmonium  right  in  the  meeting, 
which  he  did  one  evening  surrounded  by  oiivriers.  He  gave 
me  a  detailed  description  of  a  machine  which  he  has  invented 
and  nearly  prepared  for  use  ;  a  composing  machine  which  does 
away  with  composing  by  hand.  There  are  horizontal  divi- 
sions containing  letters,  &c.  .  .  .  I  hope  he  will  get  some 
money  by  it,  as  his  salary  as  pastor  is  only  ^60  a-year,  and  a 
wife  and  children  to  keep.  The  salaries  of  the  pastors  of  the 
National  Church  are  miserable,  the  people  huve  not  learned  to 
give.  Perhaps  only  a  disruption  in  their  church  would  teach 
them  how." 

To  Rev.  H.  G.  Shepherd  :— 

"Lyons,  llih  January,  1879. 

"  My  life  is  a  very  busy  one.  My  meetings  rose  to  fifteen,  and 
sometimes  seventeen  per  week  during  the  summer,  for  our 
daily  conferences  at  the  Exhibition  added  greatly  to  our  work. 
We  had  much  encouragement  in  it,  and  are  only  now  reaping 
the  fruits.  It  has  done  much  to  remove  prejudice  and  ignor- 
ance existing  among  the  Roman  Catholics,  and  has  prepared 
the  way  for  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  throughout  France. 
I  have  been  here  nearly  two  months,  and  return  on  Monday 
to  Paris.  I  had  seven  meetings  the  Christmas-week,  went 
once  into  the  country,  addressed  a  meeting  in  a  new  Mission 
Chapel,  spoke  to  three  huge  gatherings  of  children  met  to 
celebrate  that  most  heathen  of  rites — a  Christmas-tree.  We 
have  four  stations  situated  in  the  outskirts  of  the  town,  one 
being  more  in  the  centre.     I  have  just  returned  from  one  which 


214         Memoir  of  Rev,  G,  T.  Dodds, 

I  opened  only  three  weeks  ago ;  there  must  have  been  there 
altogether  nearly  200  people,  and  they  listened  with  most 
unfailing  attention  to  chapter  and  speeches,  and  already  sing 
the  hymns  as  if  they  had  known  them  for  long.  It  is  wonder- 
ful how  ready  these  ouvriers  are  to  hear  the  Gospel ;  they 
are  men  of  no  religion,  being  merely  nominal  Catholics,  and 
the  Gospel  draws  them  at  first  hearing,  thoiigli  they  often 
admire  more  than  feel  their  need  of  the  great  salvation  we 
proclaim.  "  C'est  tres  gentil,"  snms  tip  their  opinion  of  its 
truths.  They  use  the  same  word  regarding  sinsy  they  say,  "  Ce 
n'est  pas  gentil."  The  fact  is,  I  never  saw  a  people  so  entirely 
without  the  moral  aspects  of  conscience  ;  their  conscience  has 
been  trained  to  sleep  by  their  religion,  and  it  is  difiicult  to  find 
where  it  is  yet  in  existence.  They  are  worst  at  Paris  ;  here 
the  people  are  of  a  more  solid  character.  Yet  I  must  say  that 
we  have  great  reason  to  give  thanks.  I  know  of  several, 
infidel,  swearing,  ignorant,  indiff'erent,  in  whose  heart  the  seed 
sown  has,  I  trust,  taken  root,  and  is  even  already  bearing  fruit. 
I  have  greatly  enjoyed  my  work  among  them.  1  have  given 
an  account  of  the  work  in  the  liecord  for  February,  and  in  this 
week's  Christian  Week.  I  liave  been  reading  the  history  of 
Pierre  Waldo,  the  translator  of  the  Bible  and  reformer  before 
the  Eeformation.  It  is  deeply  interesting.  What  do  you 
think  of  some  of  his  evangelists  and  adherents  being  able  to 
repeat  the  Book  of  Job,  and  many  the  whole  of  the  New 
Testament  by  heart.  Surely  we  must  have  lost  the  art  of 
memory.  I  believe  that  such  memories  alone  qualified  for  the 
pastorate  among  them.  Wae's  me  !  how  many  of  us  would  be 
elected  ! " 


Though  the  climate  of  Lyons  did  not  suit  him  he 
greatly  enjoyed  the  work  there.  It  was  more  diffi- 
cult than  that  of  Paris  ;  but  he  did  not  like  it  the  less 


Lyons.  2 1 5 

on  that  account.  There  was  more  opposition  to  the 
Bible  and  the  Gospel ;  but  he  was  prepared  for  this. 
The  extreme  of  Eomanism  and  the  extreme  of 
infidelity  were  exhibited  there ;  but  he  did  not 
shrink  from  facing  these.  It  was  the  work  which 
he  had  come  to  do ;  and  it  was  more  pleasant  to 
meet  the  active  resistance  of  the  Romanist  and  the 
infidel  than  the  stolid  acquiescence  of  the  indiffer- 
entist.  He  could  suit  himself  to  his  new  audience 
and  his  new  circumstances. 
Besides  he  did  not  labour  invain.  The  meetingrswere 

o 

uncommonly  large  and  successful.  The  "good  news" 
of  a  free  forgiveness  were  not  preached  in  vain.  Light 
found  its  way  into  darkness ;  and  here,  as  in  Paris, 
the  "  new  religion," — the  religion  of  "  peace  with 
God,"  startled  not  a  few.  It  was  not  with  logic,  or 
theology,  or  science  that  he  met  the  doubters  of 
Lyons,  but  with  that  which  every  man  needs, — the 
announcement  of  deliverance  from  sin,  and  of  recon- 
ciliation with  the  God  against  whom  he  has  sinned ; 
through  the  propitiation  of  the  cross. 

While  at  Lyons  he  thus  \vrote  to  his  brother, 
giving  some  of  his  thoughts  on  prophetical  sub- 
jects : — 

"  Lyons,  \^th  December,  1878. 

"  I  have  been  studying  for  a  year,  and  specially  here,  the 
subject  of  the  millennium  and  the  second  advent  of  Christ,  and 


2i6        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

it  seems  to  me  we  are  wonderfully  near  that  time.  But  before 
that  time  there  is  to  be  a  tremendous  development  of  sin  and 
Satan's  power.  *The  love  of  the  many  (t.e.,  of  the  greater 
part  of  Christians)  will  wax  cold,'  '  and  when  the  Son  of  Man 
Cometh  will  He  find  faith  on  the  earth  V  I  am  firmly 
convinced  that  these  days  of  tribulation  are  coming  on  our 
earth.  All  events  are  signs  of  such  a  state.  The  Gospel  may 
be  said  to  have  been  preached  in  all  nations  now  for  a  testi- 
mony, and  '  then  shall  the  end  come,'  and  we  shall  have  the 
personal  reign  of  Christ  at  Jerusalem.  The  Bible  has  been  a 
new  book  to  me  since  I  studied  it  in  these  relations.  Pro- 
phecy, instead  of  being  dark  and  obscure,  is  full  of  light  and 
meaning,  and  you  would,  I  am  sure,  find  a  keen  pleasure  in 
studying  it  in  this  relation  also. 

"  I  have  no  sympathy  with  those  harum-scarum  prophetical 
writers  who  fix  dates  and  years,  and  that  sort  of  thing,  but 
why  is  prophecy  written,  why  are  the  gospels  full  of  prophecy, 
and  the  Epistles  to  the  Thessalonians,  if  we  are  not  to  study 
such  subjects.  A  strange  delusion  seems  to  have  taken  hold 
of  ministers  ;  they  think  that  everything  is  to  go  on  all  right, 
that  the  world  is  to  be  gradually  won  to  Christ,  and  Christianity 
is  to  triumph  everywhere. 

"  Now  to  me  it  is  quite  different.  Things  are  getting  worse 
and  worse ;  infidelity  is  stronger  than  ever.  The  Christians 
mingle  more  and  more  with  the  world,  and  worldly  people 
are  looked  on  as  Christians. 

"  What  is  to  come  of  all  this,  and  how  is  it  to  be  made  to 
disappear  ?  Not  until  the  coming  of  Christ ;  and  before  that 
coming,  we  shall  see  the  fulfilment  of  2  Thess.  ii.,  and  of 
Daniel  vii.  9  ;  xii.  2,  and  of  Matt.  xiii.  5-26,  27  especially  ; 
and  then  we  shall  have  the  accomplishment  of  Acts  i.  10,  11  ; 
of  iii.  19-21 ;  of  2  Peter  iii.  3-13,  specially  13.  I  wish  I  had 
a  small  book,  '  Behold,  I  make  all  Things  New,'  by  Dr.  Bonar, 
here ;  I  hope  to  send  it  you  from  Paris.  .  .  .  Have  you  ever 


Rehani  to  Pans,  2 1 7 

read  Ezekiel  xxxviii.  and  xxxix.  ?  Wlio  is  Rosh^  and  who  are 
the  young  lions  of  Tarshish  1  Many  say  Russia  and  Britain. 
It  is  Britain  which  has  put  hooks  in  Rosh's  jaws  and  held  her 
back.  Russia  aims  at  the  Holy  Land,  and  her  judgment 
comes  out  in  chap,  xxxix.  It  is  not  for  nothing  that  we  have 
India,  and  Cyprus,  and  Asia  Minor,  and  the  Suez  Canal.  The 
Jews  are  to  be  brought  back  to  their  native  land,  and  Britain 
is  to  keep  the  way  open  for  them.  .  .  .  There  is  a  remarkable 
book  published  lately  in  France,  'Le  Christ,'  by  Earnest 
Neville,  &c." 

On  tlie  13tli  of  January  (1879),  he  left  Lyons 
and  returned  to  Paris  to  resume  his  work  there  after 
this  seven  weeks'  interruption.  On  the  17th  he 
records  a  "good  meeting"  at  the  new  station  of  Men- 
ilmontant,  and  "  deep  impression."  On  the  23rd  he 
is  at  Vaugirard,  from  which  he  mentions  that  he 
got  home  with  difficulty,  as  the  snow  was  very  deep. 
On  the  29th  we  find  him  present  at  the  funeral  of  a 
man  who  lived  above  the  Salle  of  St.  Antoine  ;  "  had 
never  come  to  the  meeting  but  had  read  our  books. 
He  died  in  peace.  We  had  a  service  in  the  house, 
and  there  was  a  mass  in  the  church ;  then  a  service 
at  the  grave  (Mont  Parnasse).  Spoke  to  the 
people." 

His  entry  for  the  21st  of  February  is  "prayer 
meeting,  at  two  o'clock;  large."  Every  week  the 
prayer  meeting  is  noted.  He  was  regular  in  his 
attendance  here  as  he  was  at  St,  Andrews  when  a 


2i8        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds. 

student.  Yet  it  was  by  no  means  so  easy  to  main- 
tain this  weekly  regularity.  There  might  have 
been  many  excuses, — good  enough  in  their  way — 
business,  distance,  callers,  weariness.  But  none  of 
these  things  hindered.  The  prayer  meeting  was 
"  business  "  to  him,  of  the  most  important  kind.  It 
was  "  necessary,"  and  to  it  other  things  must  bend. 

On  the  26th  he  writes :  "  EivOLI. — Hanging  up 
texts.  A  most  interesting  conversation  with  the 
man  referred  to  on  Tuesday,  ISth.  Sure  that  he  is 
a  Christian.  He  said,  '  Souvent  je  me  presente  le 
Calvaire,  et  je  me  clis,  me  voila  ! '  " 

On  the  1 7th  of  February  he  writes  to  his  parents, 
mentioning  the  prospect  of  a  station  at  Toulouse,  for 
which  friends  there  were  to  pay.  "We  hope,"  he 
says;  "to  superintend  and  manage  a  mission  there. 
The  French  cannot  take  the  initiative ;  and  the  work 
is  so  thoroughly  English  that  they  need  to  learn  it ; 
many  of  them  are  apt  learners."  Then  he  goes  on 
to  say : — 

"  I  suppose  you  have  all  been  interested  in  the  changes  of 
Government  into  which  we  have  so  quietly  glided.  If  any  one 
wishes  to  realise  the  stability  of  the  Eepublic,  the  proof  will 
be  found  in  the  profound  quiet  in  which  all  has  happened. 
It  is  most  remarkable.  There  has  been  absolutely  no  excite- 
ment, and  MacMahon  has  done  the  thing  so  gracefully  that 
he  is  respected,  though  unregretted,  and  never  missed.  It 
does  not,  and  will  not  make  any  immediate  difference  to  us, 


Return  to  Paris.  219 

though  it  will  possibly  affect  the  cause  of  religious  liberty 
in  France,  and  give  it  a  great  impulse.  A  majority  of  the 
cabinet  are  Protestants,  and  Waddington  is  a  thorough  evan- 
gelical Christian  and  a  member  of  the  Free  Church  ;  we  shall 
at  least  have  some  fear  of  God  in  the  cabinet.  I  can  quite 
understand  MacMahon  feeling  it  a  hard  trial,  as  a  soldier,  to 
dismiss  his  old  friends  ; — though  Bourbaki  is  a  real  specimen 
of  the  corrupt  generals  of  the  second  empire. 

"  Next  week  I  will  write  to  the  class.  It  is  very  kind  of 
the  children  to  send  us  fifteen  shillings.  I  would  write  now, 
but  it  is  late,  and  Mr.  Eouilly  being. at  Lyons,  installing 
M.  de  Watteville,  I  have  more  work  than  usual  to-day,  and 
this  is  my  twentieth  letter  since  yesterday ;  of  course  these  are 
only  short  invitation  notes  for  help,  but  that  takes  up  a 
good  time. 

"  I  am  glad  tliat  horrible  lottery  affair  (City  of  Glasgow 
Bank)  came  to  an  end.  Our  Paris  lottery  has  been  the  cause  of 
scenes  here  ;  such  mad  eagerness  to  win,  and  such  disappoint- 
ment in  losing,  but  the  French  conscience  is  not  deep,  and  it 
would  be  useless  to  try  to  make  them  understand  its  sinfulness. 
'  Ce  n'est  pas  gentil,'  will  comprehend  all  their  admissions 
regarding  it." 

We  resume  the  jottings  of  the  diary : — 

"  28^/j-  March. — Prayer  meeting  at  two  o'clock.  Dr.  Craig 
there  ;  called  to  consult  about  tracts,  from  the  Religious  Tract 
Society. 

"30th  March. — Sunday.  Sunday  school  at  Crenelle. 
Hanneman,  the  usual  speaker,  ill.  Salle  at  4.30.  Took  tea 
with  Mr.  Morgan  of  Edinburgh,  and  went  together  to  Grenelle. 
I  translated  for  him ;  and  spoke  on  the  Ethiopian  ruler, — a 
negro  ;  speaking  still  of  Livingstone  ;  had  a  conversation  with 
a  man  at  the  door. 

"  1st    April.  -    Arranging    about    new    hymn-book    with 


2  20        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

Mr.  M'AU.  Rivoli.  Dr.  Livingstone  (Lecture).  Had  a  long 
walk  with  Dr.  Appia  and  a  most  interesting  conversation. 

"  3rc?  April. — At  three  o'clock,  Ornano  ;  children's  meeting. 
At  five,  Menilmontant ;  then  Vangirard"  (three  in  one 
afternoon). 

"6^^  April. — Sunday.  Sunday  school,  Grenelle.  Salle, 
La  brebis  perdue  "  (three  meetings  that  afternoon). 

"  7th  April. — German  meeting,  first  night ;  fifty  present. 

"  10th  April. — Ornano  at  3.  Menilmontant  at  5.  On  to  Gare 
d'lvry.  Opening  of  a  new  Salle,  once  a  cofi'ee  palace  ;  good 
meeting  ;  spoke  on  '  Religion  de  Jesus  Christ.'     Home  late." 

A  letter  to  his  brother,  dated  Belleville,  5th  April, 
gives  a  brief  sketch  of  matters  at  this  time  : — 

"  It  has  been  an  exceptionally  busy  time ;  we  have  had 
so  many  important  matters  to  decide.  I  am  in  the  midst 
of  arrangements  for  printing,  or  rather  getting  new  tracts 
written,  and  a  new  hymn-book  is  being  prepared.  It  is  to  be 
increased  by  two  hundred  hymns.  Some  aspiring  hymn- 
writers  have  sent  in  contributions,  and  Mr.  M'AU  has  asked 
me  why  I  do  not  immortalise  myself.  I  am  afraid  my  French 
poetry  would  be  something  like  that  famous  translation  done 

to  order    by   M.   .      Yesterday,  too,   our  troubles  and 

anxieties  about  removal  came  to  an  end,  and  we  got  this 
house  let.  I  am  going  to  open  a  German  meeting  on  Monday 
evening,  and  enclose  a  prospectus  of  it.  I  expect  it  will  suc- 
ceed. Some  German  young  men  will  help  me,  and  some  of 
the  pastors.  It  will  revive  my  knowledge  of  German.  We 
have  got  a  capital  German  hymn-book  sent  us  from  M.  A. 
Fischer  Sarasin,  of  Bale.  There  are  a  large  number  of  Ger- 
mans in  the  quarter  of  La  Vilette.  Thursday  we  open  our 
new  room  at  Gare  d'lvry.  It  was  the  coflfee-palace  in  which 
you  took  tea  at  the  Exhibition.  Some  friends  in  England 
have  engaged  to  raise  the  money  to  ,£250.      The  architect 


Return  to  Paris,  221 

gave  it  at  a  large  reduction.  It  will  be  a  great  improvemeiit, 
the  Salle  was  as  dingy  as  could  be.  The  children  of  Glasgow 
sent  us  lately  a  large  picture  of  the  Good  Shepherd  printed  on 
cloth,  life-size,  and  I  found  it  attracted  the  attention  of  the 
children.     I  wish  we  had  some  more  of  them. 

"  I  have  been  giving  the  people  an  account  of  Livingstone, 
his  travels,  and  death  in  Africa. 

"  Enclosed  a  bill  of  my  lecture  for  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association — '  The  Eeligion  of  Primitive  Man,  Monotheism.' 

"  12^/^  Aipril^  1879. — I  shall  be  glad  to  have  a  rest,  for  a  yeai' 
and  a-half  without  holidays,  and  constant  and  most  respon- 
sible work,  tires  one  out. 

"  I  have  learned  to  speak  French  in  public  meetings,  but 
am  wonderfully  ignorant  of  household  words.  I  have  begun 
a  German  meeting,  and  had  fifty  people  the  first  night.  The 
French  is  weak  beside  that  grand  old  Teutonic  tongue  ;  yet 
I  don't  despise  the  former's  elegance  and  precision." 

We  pursue  the  diary  jottings  : — 

"  IWh  April. — Ornano.  Children.  Menilmontant.  Went 
to  find  Dr.  Murray  Mitchell,  who  accompanied  me  to  Gare 
d'lvry,  and  spoke.  Then  I  spoke  on  Dieu  est  amour.  Full 
meeting. 

"2bth  April. — Eivoli.  Interesting  conversation  with  a 
young  man,  a  German  ;  seems  impressed. 

"  27th  April. — Sunday.  Scotch  Church,  morning.  Com- 
munion. Mr.  Paterson  and  Dr.  Murray  Mitchell.  Eivoli. 
Dr.  Fisch  and  M.  Dardier.  Salle  Evangelique.  Called  on 
Dr.  M.  M.,  and  then  to  Crenelle.  Heard  from  F.  about  J. ; 
died  in  a  mania  for  amassing  money.     Pray  for  F. 

"28th  April. — Went  to  meet  Dr.  Eainy ;  found  him  at 
Boulevard  Malesherbes.  He  took  tea  with  us,  and  went  to 
Ornano  with  Mr.  M'All ;  self  to  German  meeting.  Good ; 
upwards  of  sixty." 


22  2        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

It  was  at  this  time  that  he  with  his  family 
changed  their  residence  to  Boulevard  Malesherbes, 
where  they  remained  upwards  of  a  year. 

On  the  8th  of  May  he  left  Paris  on  a  mission 
journey  to  England,  and  also  to  receive  ordination 
from  the  Free  Church.  On  the  9th  he  addressed  a 
large  meeting  in  Exeter  Hall — Lord  Shaftesbury 
in  the  chair.  On  the  13th,  breakfasted  with  Com- 
mittee of  Tract  Society,  and  addressed  them  on  tract 
distribution  in  France.  He  notes,  "  Most  satisfactory 
meeting." 

On  the  14th  he  arrived  in  Edinburgh ;  and  on  the 
following  day  the  Free  Presbytery  of  Edinburgh  met 
in  the  Grange  Church  for  his  ordination.  The  day 
was  the  term-day  in  the  city,  and,  besides,  it  was 
thoroughly  rainy,  so  that  the  audience  was  not  large ; 
but  he  notes  it  as  "  a  solemn  day,"  and  notes  also 
the  presence  of  his  father  and  brother.*  In  the 
evening  he  went  to  our  mission-hall,  his  old  scene  of 
missionary  work.  In  the  course  of  the  following  ten 
days  he  addressed  some  eleven  meetings  in  various 
churches  and  halls, — all,  of  course,  in  reference  to  his 
Paris  work.  On  the  evening  of  Sabbath,  the  25th,  he 
took  the  French  service. 

On  the  5  th  of  June  he  went  to  Ireland,  to  the 

*  The  ordination  sermon  by  myself  was  afterwards  published  in 
a  small  volume     *'  Does  God  Care  for  our  Great  Cities  ?" 


Visit  to  England.  223 

General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
preaching  and  speaking,  times  not  a  few, — always  on 
France ;  that  was  his  errand,  wherever  he  went.  He 
was  much  gratified  with  his  Irish  visit. 

The  following  letter  to  his  brother  describes  his 
visit  to  the  Assembly  : — 

"6^^  June,^  1879. — These  Hibernians  conduct  their  meetings 
with  considerable  hilarity  and  noise.  They  have  been  debating 
all  day,  and  now  up  till  eleven  this  evening,  the  question  of 
instrumental  music,  and  are  now  about  to  take  the  vote,  a 
slow  process.  The  organ  question  has  been  thrashed  out  for 
six  years,  but  they  are  gifted  here  with  immense  powers  of 
physical  endurance,  and  Hibernian  eloquence  flows  like  an 
unimpeded  stream, — it  is  only  equal  to  their  j  okes.  They  are  all 
very  kind  and  sympathetic,  reminding  me  a  little  of  the  French. 
I  am  to  preach  in  two  of  their  largest  churches  on  Sunday 
morning  and  evening,  and  as  I  am  to  speak  on  our  Mission  I 
hope  to  get  some  money.  On  Tuesday  there  is  to  be  a  drawing- 
room  meeting,  and  that  will  raise  up  some  interest  in  Belfast." 

He  returned  to  Edinburgh  and  preached  there 
several  times  ;  went  to  Greenock  on  his  mission.  In 
July  he  went  to  Cambuslang  to  visit  his  friend  Mr. 
Shepherd;  and  speaks  of  an  interesting  prayer  meeting 
there.  On  the  4)th  of  the  month  he  was  called  up  to 
London  to  meet  the  secretaries  of  the  Tract  Society 
regarding  French  tracts.  He  returned  to  Edinburgh 
next  day, — two  nights  in  the  train.  "  Studying  all 
day,"  is  his  entry  for  the  5th.  Sunday,  6th  July, 
preaching  in  different  pulpits.     Sunday,  13th  July, 


224        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

is  thus  noted  by  him,  "  Communion ;  Dr.  B.  preached, 
'  In  His  temple  doth  every  one  speak  of  His  glory.' 
I  took  second  table  and  address  on,  '  He  gave  Him- 
self.' '  He  that  spared  not  His  own  Son.'  Eested 
in  the  afternoon ;  preached  in  the  evening ;  torrents 
of  rain.  Text,  Luke  xxii.  32,  'Strengthen  thy 
brethren.'  Very  solemn  and  refreshing  day  for  us  all." 
He  returned  to  Paris  on  the  15th;  re-commenced 
his  work  immediately;  notes  how  refreshing  it  was  to 
meet  all  the  workers  again.  21st  in  town,  at  Palais 
du  Luxembourg  to  pay  a  fine  for  having  put  up  an 
ensigne  lumineuse  (a  row  of  gas  jets)  at  Rivoli 
without  leave ;  6  francs  80.  At  German  meeting 
130  present,  most  attentive.  2nd  August. — "You 
know  how  busy  I  am.  Mr.  M'All  and  M.  Rouilly 
are  away ;  and  the  organisations  and  the  ceaseless 
interviewing  of  strangers  both  foreign  and  French 
take  up  my  time.  It  is  hot,  and  the  meetings  suffer. 
At  Rivoli  still  a  good  meeting,  above  200.  We  have 
begun  at  Bordeaux.  I  am  feeling  the  want  of  a  rest 
now.  I  had  none  in  Scotland ;  but  I  am  glad  to  be 
back  to  my  work. 

Again  to  his  parents  : — 

"147  Boulevard  Malesherbes,  9  AoUt,  1879. 

"  No  one  need  expect  many  letters  from  me  just  now,  for 
every  detail  of  the  Mission  is  on  my  hands  at  present,  and  I 


Return  to  Paris.  225 

am  busy  from  morning  to  night.  M.  Eoiiilly  returns  on  the 
20th,  and  Mr.  M'All  about  the  end  of  tlie  month.  Every  one 
is  away  '  en  vacance,'  and  there  are  thus  more  than  a  dozen 
friends  whom  I  always  count  on  for  speaking,  who  are  over 
the  hills  and  far  away.  We  have  had  a  time  of  great  heat, 
finishing  off  with  sheet-lightning  and  thunder  and  rain.  One 
Sunday  was  simply  melting  ;  there  was  not  even  a  breath  of 
air.  These  last  days  have  been  colder  and  one  does  not  long 
for  iced  water  and  salad.  The  heat  thinned  the  meetings,  but 
they  are  going  on  as  usual  again. 

"  Miss  N.  is  here  just  now  ;  she  comes  at  her  own  expense, 
it  is  very  kind  of  her  ;  she  would  make  a  capital  worker.  She 
found  herself  alone  the  other  evening,  and  nothing  daunted, 
gave  out  hymns  and  read  a  chapter.  I  wish  we  had  a  few 
more  like  her. 

"  You  would  see  a  translation  of  a  letter  I  received  from  that 
poor  girl  we  rescued  about  a  year  ago  in  this  week's  Christian 
Week.  It  has  given  many  of  us  great  joy,  for  she  was  very  often 
nearly  going  back  to  her  old  habits.  Now  her  influence  in  the 
Refuge,  even  among  the  other  young  women,  is  beginning  to 
tell.  Two  stations  have  been  opened  at  Bordeaux.  The 
expenses  will  not  be  great,  little  more  than  £100  a-year. 
Every  town  in  France  seems  open  to  the  Gospel.  Dr.  Somer- 
Tille  had  meetings  at  St.  Servan  and  St.  Malo,  first  for  English 
then  for  French ;  one  of  our  workers  went  tp  translate  for  him. 
They  will  open  a  regular  station  there  now,  I  think.  Money 
has  not  lacked  hitherto,  the  difficulty  is  to  get  men.  Our 
German  meeting  is  a  great  success  ;  such  veritable  Teutons, 
130  in  number  ;  if  you  heard  them  singing  the  air  of  'Annie 
Laurie '  to  one  of  their  hymns  !     It  suits  well." 

On  the  loth  of  September  he  went  to  Bordeaux 
where  the  meetings  had  already  begun.  As  his  work 
there  was  in  all  respects  like  that  of  Paris  and  Lyons, 

Q 


2  26         Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

I  need  not  occupy  room  in  detailing  it.  Nor  need  I 
enumerate  the  towns  and  villages,  such  as  Boulogne- 
sur-Mer,  La  Rochelle,  St.  Etienne,  and  others  which 
he  visited  at  this  time  and  in  subsequent  years. 
The  materials  for  an  interesting  narrative  are  not 
lacking  in  regard  to  these  places,  but  it  would 
unduly  swell  this  volume.  Reluctantly  I  omit  them, 
giving  merely  two  letters  written  from  Bordeaux 
about  this  time,  though  they  relate  in  part  to  Paris, 
the  first  to  his  parents,  and  the  last  to  his  brother. 

To  his  parents  : — 

"  Bordeaux,  YHh  September,  1879. 

"  They  were  all  well  in  Paris  when.  I  left ;  the  bairns  a 
little  inclined  to  grmnble,  as  the  heat  was  oppressive  and 
neither  in  the  house  nor  outside  could  they  find  comfort.  They 
greatly  enjoyed  the  fete  which  we  had  for  our  children  in  the 
Bois  de  Boulogne ;  it  was  a  beautiful  sight.  The  children 
were  gathered  from  the  schools,  in  the  different  halls  I  mean, 
about  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  taken  either  by  train 
or  omnibus  to  the  Arc  de  Triomphe,  our  rendezvous.  Then 
they  were  all  marched  down  the  Avenue  de  la  Grande  Armee, 
501  in  number,  with  about  sixty  monitors,  ^Mr.  M  All  at  the 
head  ;  the  procession  was  two  deep,  and  was  quite  imposing 
from  its  length  as  it  wound  out  of  the  city  and  through  the 
fortifications.  We  were  some  time  of  reaching  the  Pelouse  de 
]\Iadrid,  which  the  authorities  had  given  us  for  dining  on,  and 
for  the  children  to  amuse  themselves  on  ;  it  is  a  wide,  open, 
grassy  space,  flanked  with  trees  and  shrubs.     There  they  were 

spread  out  in  a  circle,  and  M. found  liis  carving  faculties 

employed  in  opening  tins  of  American  meat  and  slicing  it  up 
for  the  children  ;  bread  was  doled  out  from  a  big  hand-barrow  ; 
there  was  also  cheese  and  small  gateaux  and  plums  ;  for  drink, 


Return  to  Paris.  227 

water  was  used  into  wliich  was  put  essence  of  coffee  ;  drunk 
cold,  it  satisfied  tlie  thirst  very  well.  The  attempts  at 
addressing  the  children  were  not  many,  and  the  remarks  were 
very  short  for  very  potent  reasons,  but  they  sung  some  hymns 
very  well  and  wdth  great  spirit ;  everybody  was  greatly  sur- 
prised to  see  such  order  and  good  behaviour,  some  years  ago 
such  a  thing  would  have  been  impossible.  Then  came  the 
great  attraction  of  the  fete,  a  visit  to  the  Jar  din  cVAcclimatatio7i. 
The  authorities  were  most  polite  and  kind,  not  only  giving  us 
the  Pelouse  de  Madrid,  but  granting  a  free  entry  to  the 
garden  (that  would  come  to  about  £23,  as  the  price  is  one 
franc  each,  and  there  were  about  580  persons).  This  shows 
how  well  disposed  the  authorities  are  towards  us.  After  the 
Jardin  had  been  explored,  the  children  were  re-conducted  to 
the  Arc  de  Triomphe,  and  thence  to  their  homes.  The  visit  to 
the  garden  was  rather  hurriedly  made,  and  might  have  had 
much  longer  time  given  to  it,  but  there  were  crowds  ;  it  was 
on  Thursday,  a  half-lioliday,  that  the  fete  took  place,  and 
priests  and  nims  were  out  with  tlieir  schools  also.  Our 
assemblage  excited  some  interest.  Before  reaching  the  Bois  de 
Boulogne,  a  priest  passed  the  Arc  de  Triomphe,  and  wishing  to 
know  what  it  all  meant,  he  stiunbled  on  Mr.  M'All,  who 
informed  him  with  a  profound  bow  that  it  was  a  '  Fete  des  ecoles 
d' Evangelisation  de  Paris.''  The  priest  was  'enchante,'  he 
said,  but  must  have  taken  the  opportunity  to  inform  some  of 
his  brethren,  for  they  turned  up,  some  sour,  black-looking 
fellows  at  the  Pelouse,  and  reconnoitred  us  ;  I  got  near  to  one 
of  them  and  heard  him  asking  a  good  many  questions.  The 
priests  are  much  afraid  of  losing  their  power  in  the  matter  of 
education  just  now,  owing  to  M.  Ferry's  bill,  which  will  likely 
pass  next  session,  and  they  are  doubtless  much  interested  in 
any  work  which  can  l)ring  together  so  many  children.  We 
ought  to  have  had  many  more.  I  was  very  sorry  for  those 
who  did  not  come  as  they  had  no  fete  dress  ;  poor  things,  they 
were  the  very  children  we  wished  to  have.     All  of  us  were  at 


2  28        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodcis, 

the  fete  ;  we  shut  up  the  house  and  took  J.  and  J.  to  manage 
the  children,  it  being  also  a  holiday  for  themselves.  H,  and 
baby  were  delighted,  you  should  have  seen  the  way  they  rolled 
about  on  the  grass  ;  H.  made  exploring  expeditions  for  himself, 
requiring  everybody  to  watch  him,  even  to  the  gardien  de  la 
Paix,  who  once  felt  it  his  duty  to  report  on  his  wanderings. 
They  beheld  with  much  amazement  the  Nubians  riding  about 
on  camels  in  the  jardin,  and  the  giraffes  with  their  long  necks  ; 
there  was  an  ostrich  harnessed,  poor  beast,  to  a  sort  of  waggon, 
in  which  there  was  room  for  several  children  ;  it  looked  dreary 
enough,  but  the  elephants  seemed  to  have  no  objection  to  the 
life  they  led.     Here  endeth  my  causerie  on  the  fete. 

"  I  got  here  on  Monday  evening.  It  is  a  long  journey ;  leaving 
Paris  from  the  Gare  d'Orleans  at  half-past  nine,  and  reaching 
Bordeaux  about  eleven  o'clock.  What  a  dust  there  was  all  the 
way  till  I  got  to  Poitiers,  where  there  had  been  rain  !  The 
country  was  pretty  level  all  the  way  until  near  Poitiers,  when 
I  was  reminded  of  the  Rhine.  We  passed  numerous  villages 
with  their  red-tiled  roofs,  surrounded  by  vine-clad  slopes. 
The  people  were  gathering  the  grapes ;  others  were  filling 
bogs  with  potatoes.  I  saw  splendid  rows  of  poplars  ;  these 
and  the  other  trees  were  still  very  green,  and  had  not  yet  got 
their  autumn  hues,  though  the  chestnuts  with  their  golden 
fruit  were  showing  signs  of  a  summer  passed  away.  I  have 
had  hardly  time  to  examine  Bordeaux  ;  it  is  like  most  French 
towns  ;  there  are  fine  open  squares.  I  am  going  down  to  the 
harbour  to  get  a  sight  of  the  ships,  and  acquaint  myself  with 
the  city  and  the  Bordelais.  We  have  two  stations,  four  meet- 
ings a-week,  and  a  children's  meeting,  so  that  I  shall  have  less 
to  do,  and  will  rest  a  little  ;  otherwise  there  is  plenty  left 
undone  in  Paris  which  I  must  attempt  here.  Last  night 
I  confused  the  stations  and  went  to  the  wrong  one,  some  way 
off,  having  found,  quite  by  accident,  a  cabman  who  drove  me 
there,  knowing  the  meeting  ;  fortunately  it  turned  out  that  he 
knew  the  other,  and  I  got  there  a  little  late.     I  made  a  capital 


Re  htm  to  Paris.  229 

use  of  ttis  little  incident  in  my  address,  speaking  of  this 
'  fidele  cocher'  as  my  guide,  and  leading  on  to  tlie  great  need 
there  was  for  all  men  to  get  acquainted  with  the  Bible,  the 
guide  to  Christ.  There  must  have  been  about  170  people 
present,  all  listening  most  attentively.  They  have  a  choir  of 
young  j)eople  who  help  much  in  the  singing.  The  room  is 
papered  and  lit  up  with  gas.  Altogether  it  looks  quite  inviting. 
The  banner-texts  on  the  walls  make  it  different  from  a  cafe, 
while  it  is  not  so  like  a  church  as  to  frighten  away  people." 

To  his  brother  he  writes  about  Paris, — 

"  Bordeaux,  20^/t  Sejjtember,  1879. 

"  I  am  trying  to  wipe  out  scores  of  debts  in  the  shape  of 
letters ;  not  so  easy,  as  the  atmosphere  is  peculiarly  heavy 
here,  and  I  came  down  rather  tired  from  Paris.  .  .  .  The  most 
of  the  mission  people  went  up  not  many  Saturdays  ago  to  see 
the  Catacombs ;  they  cover  an  immense  extent  of  ground 
under  and  perhaps  beyond  Paris.  The  passages  were  originally 
quarries  of  stone,  which  must  have  been  tunnelled  out  rather 
than  quarried.  Every  passage  is  full  now  of  bones  piled  as 
high  and  higher  than  your  head,  and  headed  with  skulls. 
Sometimes  there  are  rows  of  skulls  half  way  up.  The  passage 
admits  of  two  walking  side  by  side,  and  is  never  very  low. 
A  sort  of  acid  smell  pervades  them,  and  it  is  a  relief  to  get 
out.  Here  and  there  there  are  pillars  and  slabs,  with  some- 
times verses  of  the  Bible,  very  seldom  expressing  Christian 
hope  or  even  sentiment,  and  passages  from  their  poets, 
Lamartine,  &c.  After  descending  a  good  many  steps — for  the 
Catacombs  are  deep  down — one  comes  on  an  inscription — 
'Arrete-toi,  c'est  ici  I'Empire  des  morts.'  The  silence  is 
oppressive,  and  the  surroundings  are  ghastly.  Each  of  us  had 
a  candle  lit,  which  shed  a  very  sombre  light  on  the  scene,  and 
only  made  it  more  horrible.  The  bones  are  collected  from 
convents — (the  skulls  found  there  were  high  though  generally 
narrow) — or  from  those  killed  in  the  Eevolution-fights  ;  among 


230        Memoir  of  Rev,  G.  T.  Dodds, 

ttese  there  were  plenty  whose  skulls  were  '  villanous  low ;' 
and  finally,  some  from  cliurcliyards.  After  five  years,  unless 
a  person  lias  bought  up  previously  tlie  piece  of  ground,  all 
the  bones  are  taken  away  to  these  Catacombs,  and  the  graves 
used  anew.  This  is  strange,  for  the  French  people  are  con- 
stant visitors  at  their  relations'  graves  ; — but  Paris  is  a  walled 
town,  and  won't  extend." 

On  his  return  to  Paris  from  Bordeaux  we  find  the 
work  going  on  as  usual ;  his  daily  jottings  showing  us 
what  it  was.  He  mentions  sometimes  seven  meetings 
a-week,  sometimes  nine,  sometimes  ten,  sometimes 
eleven ;  once  or  twice  he  speaks  of  being  laid  down 
with  severe  headache,  arising  from  over-work.  He 
mentions  a  conversation  with  a  poor  Communist, 
another  with  an  afflicted  man  who  had  lost  his  wife, 
another  with  a  young  man  who  had  found  peace  in 
Christ.  One  entry  on  8th  April  is  this,  "  Lecture  in 
the  evening  on  religion  of  Primitive  Aryans.  Fair 
attendance."  These  occasional  lectures  sometimes 
troubled  him  because  of  the  want  of  time  to  get 
them  up.  He  had  to  fall  back  on  his  old  stores  of 
knowledge.  Revisiting  these  old  stores  awakened  his 
longings  after  his  college  studies,  and  he  would  fain 
have  resumed  them.  But  he  must  not  indulge  himself. 
He  puts  them  aside,  and  plunges  into  other  work. 
On  9th  May  he  writes, "  Preached  in  Scotch  Church  on 
'  My  words  shall  not  pass  away.'  I  was  graciously 
sustained  during  the  whole  service,  and  in  speaking 


Rehcrn  to  Paris.  231 


of  the  departed  pastor,  Mr.  Paterson.  Preached 
again  in  the  afternoon.  Thence  to  Trocad^ro. 
Returned  home,  and  was  so  tired  and  ill  with 
headache  that  I  did  not  go  to  Grenelle.  18th.  Called 
on  Mrs.  Paterson  to  say  good-bye.  Prayed  with 
her.    Felt  it  much.    I  miss  Mr.  Paterson  every  day."* 

With  his  friend,  M.  Paul  Passy,  he  made  evan- 
gelistic excursions  into  the  villages  at  some  little 
distance  from  Paris,  and  more  than  once  fell  in  with 
infidel  villagers,  who,  however,  were  soon  won  over  into 
attention  and  kindness  by  his  way  of  dealing  with 
them.     Thus  he  records  one  of  these  excursions  : — 

"  13i/i.— Sunday.  Meeting  at  St.  Gemme  ;  small,  but 
interested  :  talk  with  people.  Then  went  to  Maladrerie  de 
Beines.  About  36  people  came,  inclined  to  laugh,  &c. 
Infidels.  Discussion  with  them.  They  took  gospels  ;  and 
when  we  passed  through  again  in  evening  asked  for  more. 

*  I  find  I  have  omitted  in  the  earher  part  of  this  chapter,  a  letter 
to  his  much  esteemed  friend,  the  Rev.  Perry  Keene  of  the  Church 
of  England.  As  it  is  quite  a  characteristic  one,  I  give  it  here  : — 
"  I  can  act  the  Frenchman  very  fairly  now,  and  can,  among  other 
accomplishments,  take  off  my  hat  and  make  an  elegant  speech  in 
respectable  French  during  the  performance  of  the  drama,  whether 
I  am  on  street,  stair,  or  carriage.  But  sometimes  I  lose  my  temper 
at  the  barefaced,  smooth  speeches  and  downright  lying  which  pre- 
vails in  certain  classes  of  society  here.  .  .  .  The  heat  here  (Lyons)  has 
been  great.  A  veritable  remnant  of  an  eastern  sirocco  is  the  Vent 
du  Midi.  It  traverses  the  Mediterranean  and  steals  up  the  Rhone 
valley,  arriving  just  beneath  my  windows.  The  street,  therefore,  is 
rightly  named  Q^ta^  de  VEst.  .  .  .  We  had  a  crowded  hall  and  a 
strange  sight ; — they  crowded  up  to  the  platform  on  which  I  was 
speaking.  Last  year  many  of  them  howled  and  shouted,  and  made 
me  often  despair.     But  Christian  charity  has  a  wonderful  power  ; 


232        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

Then  went  to  Montainville ;  had  a  large  crowded  meeting ; 
100  men  and  women,  serious,  attentive,  silent  at  prayer. 
(Could  not  even  attempt  prayer  at  Maladrerie.)  People  asked 
us  to  come  -back.  Gospels  and  Ami  cheerfully  taken.  I 
thank  God  for  this  day." 

These  are  glimpses,  no  more.  The  reader  must 
fill  up  the  intervals  for  himself.  With  such  specimens 
it  will  not  be  impossible  to  do  this.  It  is  still 
earnest  work.  He  does  not  count  it  hard.  But  his 
life  was  busy  and  his  hours  all  occupied.  Perhaps  he 
might  have  husbanded  his  time  better,  and  saved  his 
strength  more  than  he  often  did.  But  he  was  only 
beginning  the  work.  He  was  learning  how  to  carry 
it  on.  He  did  not  understand  the  economy  of  time 
and  strength ;  and,  before  experience  had  taught  him 
this,  he  was  called  away. 

and  the  same  unkempt,  unwashed  young  men  are  there  now  most 
attentive  listeners,  and  eager  readers  of  the  books  in  the  hbrary. 
They  don't  associate  us  with  Protestantism  ;  but  consider  us  the 
people  of  no  rehgion,  that  is,  of  no  sect,  I  never  saw  such  ignor- 
ance anywhere.  It  is  dreadful.  The  heathen  had  something 
more, — the  light  of  conscience.  But  Pome  has  obliterated  that, 
I  am  filled  with  indignation  when  I  see  what  Pome  has  done  ;  it 
has  hidden  the  one  Book  that  is  the  foundation  of  the  Church,  has 
cursed  it,  burnt  it  and  all  who  read  it.  I  meet  men  who  tell  me 
that  if  they  will  only  burn  a  candle-dip  to  the  Virgin  it  will  save 
their  souls.  Don't  let  your  grand  old  Church  of  England  become  a 
Church  where  sneaking  fellows,  in  priestly  garments,  mumble  over 
a  half -hidden  mass,  in  a  way  that  can  never  be  '  understanded 
of  the  people.'  Won't  you  come  to  Paris  and  stay  with  us?  At 
night  you  shall  go  out  with  me  and  speak  to  the  ouvriers.  I'll  be 
security  for  your  life  among  them.  Only  don't  bring  your  biretta 
and  cope  with  you.     Ccla  est  ddfendu.'" 


Return  to  Paris.  233 

He  met  daily  with  doubters;  but  his  own  doubts 
having  been  long  since  set  at  rest,  he  could  use  his 
full  strength  in  loosing  the  bonds  of  others.  He  was 
patient  with  the  questioners;  and  while  he  could 
hardly  conceal  his  contempt  for  "frivolous  Pyrr- 
honism," or  evasive  deism  at  home,  he  would  calmly 
listen  to  the  wildest  and  blindest  arguments  of  a 
Parisian  unbeliever.  Such  a  man's  subtleties  tried 
his  forbearance  much  less  than  the  more  refined  and 
less  honest  subterfuges  of  theological  unbelief  among 
his  own  countrymen.  For  there  is  a  certain  amount 
of  honesty, — call  it  the  honesty  of  ignorance, — in  the 
ideas  of  the  Communist.  He  does  not  "vote  blind- 
fold like  a  monk  of  the  Sorbonne"  as  the  proverb 
used  to  run  in  Pascal's  days.  He  speaks  what  he 
has  himself  first  believed,  and  is  not  slow  in  telling 
you  what  he  does  not  believe.  With  such  a  man 
Mr.  Dodds  was  always  ready  to  meet;  and  from 
many  such,  he  departed  on  the  best  of  terms.  They 
listened  to  him  at  first,  perhaps,  rudely,  then  gladly, 
then  they  opened  their  hearts  to  him,  asking  for  a 
Bible,  and  entreatinsf  him  to  return.  Relioious  affa- 
bility,  frankness,  and  sincerity  of  speech,  were  things 
unknown  to  them.  Their  experience  had  led  them 
to  the  conclusion  that  these  were  impossibilities. 
But  they  had  found  in  a  foreigner  what  they  had  not 
in  their  own  priesthood. 


CHAPTER   YII 

AMERICA. 

IN  September,  1880,  the  three  great  French  reli- 
gious societies — Society  Centrale  d'Evangelisa- 
tion,  Socidte  Evangelique  de  France,  and 
Mission  Interieure — resolved  to  send  representatives 
to  the  American  Churches.  They  chose  M.  Reveillaud 
for  this  purpose,  but  it  was  necessary  to  find  for  him  an 
able  companion,  and  one  who  could  speak  English  as 
well  as  French.  Although  the  object  was  not  in  the 
first  instance  the  M'AU  Mission,  yet,  in  the  interest 
of  the  larger  French  work,  Mr.  M'All  consented  to 
spare  his  colleague',  and  Mr.  Dodds  prepared  to  go. 
They  were  chosen  to  represent  the  Protestant 
Churches  of  France  at  the  Pan-Presbyterian  Council, 
to  meet  at  Philadelphia ;  but,  owing  to  some  delay 
(on  the  part  of  the  committee  acting  for  them)  in 
taking  out  their  passage,  they  did  not  sail  till  a 
week  after  they  ought  to  have  done,  and  so  missed 

the  greater  part  of  the  meetings  of  the  Council, 
234 


America.  235 


M.  Reveillaud's  eloquence  is  remarkable ;  but 
it  would  have  been  lost  had  it  not  been  for  the  skill 
of  his  interpreter.  The  task  of  translation  was 
not  an  easy  one.  For  though  to  render  from 
one  language  to  another  may  not  be  difficult  in  the 
case  of  a  simple  religious  address,  it  was  by  no 
means  so  easy  to  transfer  into  suitable  English  the 
rolling  eloquence  of  the  French  orator.  Mr.  Dodds 
proved  himself  quite  equal  to  the  occasion,  and  those 
who  heard  bear  witness  that  the  translation  fully 
represented  the  power  of  the  original. 

The  American  newspapers  reported  his  meetings 
and  detailed  his  progress,  so  that  by  means  of  their 
reports  intelligence  as  to  the  mission  was  very  widely 
circulated,  not  merely  among  Christian  men,  but 
among  the  more  worldly  and  indifferent.  His  story 
was  one  fitted  to  arrest  the  public  ear,  and  it  was 
told  well.  The  double  way  in  which  it  spoke  to  the 
audience,  both  in  French  and  English,  increased  its 
effect.  These  duplicate  speeches,  which  might  have 
been  reckoned  a  drawback,  really  contributed  to  the 
interest  of  the  meetings. 

Some  of  the  newspapers,  indeed,  though  they  faith- 
fully reproduced  the  speeches,  did  not  altogether 
understand  either  the  men  or  their  history.  One  of 
them,  confounding  Mr.  Dodds'  narrative  of  the  French 
persecutions  of  other  days  with    his  o\vn   personal 


236        Memoir  of  Rev,  G.  T.  Dodds. 

history,  represented  him  as  having  been  imprisoned 
in  a  Spanish  dungeon  ;  not  however  telling  its  readers 
why  he  was  sent  there,  or  how  he  got  out,  or  whether 
the  inquisitors  were  not  still  in  pursuit  of  him.  But 
a  mistake  of  this  kind  was  innocent  enough,  and  by 
no  means  did  any  harm. 

He  greatly  enjoyed  the  companionship  of  M. 
Eeveillaud ;  and  frequently  referred  to  their  pleasant 
intercourse  in  their  various  journeys  and  voyages  by 
sea  and  land.  There  was  a  most  brotherly  affection 
on  both  sides,  as  will  appear  from  the  following 
narrative,  furnished  by  M.  R^veillaud  : — 

"  I  knew  the  Rev.  G.  Th.  Dodds  from  having  occa- 
sionally heard  him  speak  in  the  M'All  meetings,  and 
from  having  met  him  in  the  meetings  of  the  com- 
mittees of  the  '  Mission  Interieure,'  and  of  the  Paris 
City  Mission.  The  first  impression  produced  on  all 
who  approached  him, — by  this  tall,  fine-looking  young 
man  of  thirty,  with  his  clear  frank  glance,  his  kindly 
and  ringing  laugh, — was  one  of  well-being,  of  sym- 
pathy, of  confidence.  One  felt  one's-self  instinctively 
in  presence  of  a  beautiful  soul,  and  his  address,  at  once 
affable  and  dignified,  prepossessed  men  in  his  favour, 
and  won  the  hearts  of  his  hearers  immediately. 
And  when  we  remembered  that,  obeying  God's  call, 
like  Abraham  of  old,  he  had  left  his  country  and 
his  father's  house  to  come  and  preach  the  Gospel  to 


America.  237 


the  poor  workmen  of  the  Paris  faubourgs,  in  the 
lowly  shops  which  Mr.  M'All  has  transformed  into 
houses  of  prayer,  one  could  not  help  blessing  God 
for  having  raised  up,  as  a  witness  of  His  mercies  and 
of  His  good- will  towards  France,  this  young  man, 
full  of  life  and  of  strength,  for  whom  these  words  of 
Solomon  seemed  written,  '  The  glory  of  young  men 
is  their  strength.' 

"  No  choice  could  have  been  more  agreeable  to  me 
than  that  of  Mr.  Dodds  as  co-delegate.  Not  only  did 
I  already  love,  little  as  I  had  seen  of  him,  the  brother 
in  Christ  who  was  to  cross  the  Atlantic  with  me, 
but  I  appreciated  in  him  many  qualities  of  which 
I  am  much  in  need.  Thus  I  charged  him  with  the 
responsibility  which  weighed  most  heavily  on  me, — 
that  of  the  purse.  How  many  cares  and  annoyances 
he  spared  me  in  offering  from  the  first  day  to  keep 
account  of  our  expenses  !  It  was  at  the  cost  of  his 
rest  that  he  acquitted  himself  of  this  task,  for  I  have 
seen  him  racking  his  brain  ise  creuser  la  tete)  for 
a  whole  day  for  a  trifle  of  some  cents  which  he  could 
not  remember  so  as  to  inscribe  under  its  proper  head. 
Nearly  every  evening  he  had  to  take  half-an-hour  off 
his  sleep  to  make  out  an  exact  account  of  the  daily 
expenses,which  he  managed  with  the  utmost  economy.* 

*  These  sentences  of  M.  Reveillaud's  would  be  hardly  worth 
inserting,    were    it    not   that    those    that    knew   him    well    know 


238        Memoir  of  Rev,  G.  T.  Dodds, 

"  But  I  come  to  our  point  of  departure,  the  quay 
of  Havre,  whence  we  sailed  on  the  ISth  of  September 
in  the  steamer  La  France.  We  had  the  pleasure  of 
having  the  cabin  to  ourselves,  and  no  comfort  was 
missing ;  so  that  comparing  our  situation,  as  we  did 
often,  with  that  of  Paul  on  his  voyage  to  Kome,  or 
even  with  that  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  braving  the 
tempests  in  their  frail  bark  to  found  new  and  free 
hearths  on  unknown  shores,  we  did  not  want  sub- 
jects of  thankfulness.  M.  Mabille,  who  represented 
at  the  Pan-Presbyterian  Council  the  Missionary 
Church  of  Basutoland,  was  our  companion,  and  we 
both  esteemed  it  a  privilege  to  have  him  with  us. 
My  brother  Dodds  (for  already  I  had  taken  his  mea- 
sure and  given  him  that  name)  had  brought  with 
him  quite  a  packet  of  books,  for  the  most  part  theo- 
logical or  philological.  He  wrote  foot-notes,  rectified 
on  certain  points  the  opinions  of  his  authors  ;  then 
shutting  his  books  he  would  reproach  himself  for  the 
time  he  had  spent,  and  come  back  to  his  Bible — the 
book  of  his  pillow,  of  his  pocket ;  his  book  (from 
morning  to  night)  of  every  hour — to  this  Word  of 


that  to  no  man  was  the  task  of  managing  money  and  keeping 
accounts  more  distasteful  than  to  him.  And  yet  in  the  Mission  not 
a  day  passed  but  he  had  the  burden  of  keeping  account  of  money  not 
his  own.  It  was  one  of  the  many  little  duties  which  he  per- 
formed against  his  nature,  cheerfully,  as  to  the  Lord. 


America.  239 


God,  which  he  placed  so  eminently  above  all  human 
works,  above  all  scientific  authorities. 

The  Bible ;  oh,  how  he  prized  it,  loved  it,  pos- 
sessed it,  lived  it !  I  do  not  know  if  he  ever  had 
had  his  doubts  on  the  perfect  authority  of  the  holy 
book,  but  at  the  time  of  which  I  speak,  any  such 
doubts  had  been  utterly  driven  back  and  discomfited 
by  the  certitudes  and  evidences  of  his  spiritual 
criteriuwj. 

"  From  the  first  line  of  Genesis  to  the  last  of  the 
Apocalypse,  the  Bible  was  for  him  (what  it  was  for 
Calvin,  for  Knox,  for  the  Huguenots,  and  the  Coven- 
anters of  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries) 
the  very  Word  of  God,  of  which  not  a  jot  nor  a 
tittle  but  shall  have  its  entire  fulfilment.  His 
theory  of  inspiration  was  thus  all  of  one  piece,  like 
that  of  the  Gaussens,  the  Malans,  the  Christians  of 
the  Revival.  A  narrow  theory  you  may  say  ;  anti- 
quated, and,  besides,  Judaical  in  its  literalism  !  It 
is  possible !  But  what  backbone  ;  what  solidity 
{charpente)  it  gave  to  his  faith  and  to  his  life !  How 
it  did  one's  soul  good  to  see,  in  the  decline  of  our 
nineteenth  century,  after  all  the  havoc  which 
criticism  has  made  in  the  realms  of  theology  and 
faith,  this  young  pastor,  certainly  not  ignorant  of 
any  of  the  attacks  of  this  modern  criticism,  yet  as 
whole  in  his  convictions  of  the  Divine  origin  of  the 


240        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

Bible  as  if  he  had  always  lived  in  the  atmosphere  of 
our  Huguenot  academies  of  the  sixteenth  century. 
Such  are  these  rocks  of  granite, — the  Bass  Rock  or 
Ailsa  Craig,  which  rise  on  the  Scottish  coasts,  un- 
moved in  the  midst  of  the  stormy  waves  of  ocean, 
and  which,  from  tempests  and  from  tides,  form  a 
refuge  for  the  birds  of  heaven. 

"  The  Scotch  are  said  to  be  a  people  of  theologians. 
In  this  point  of  view,  G.  Theophilus  Dodds  justified 
his  origin.  He  was  a  theologian  to  the  ends  of  his 
fingers.  He  loved  theology  for  itself;  he  could 
discuss  for  hours  this  obscure  point  of  dogmatics,  or 
that  problem  of  exegesis.  He  was  prepared  for  these 
combats  as  the  knights  of  the  middle  ages  were  for 
their  tournaments.  He  was  anointed  with  holy  oil 
and  armed  cap-a-2ne  against  the  adversary ;  for  he 
knew  from  having  read,  re-read,  and  meditated  so 
many  times,  the  sacred  text  and  all  its  references 
nsque  ad  unguem.  He  would  willingly  have  invited 
me  to  these  friendly  passages-at-arms  on  certain 
subjects  which  were  dear  to  him,  and  where  our  views 
did  not  always  accord, — such  as  on  the  return  of  the 
Jews  to  Jerusalem,  or  the  near  coming  of  the  Lord. 
But  I  had  so  much  pleasure  in  contemplating  that 
well-tempered  faith  (tvemiDe  de  foi),  so  rare  in  our 
day ;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  I  felt  myself  so  unable 
to  cross  swords  with  him,  that  I  preferred  to  hide 


America.  241 


myself  and  own  myself  conquered  at  the  first  passage. 
His  theology  did  not  wrong  his  charity.  '  Narrow 
conscience,  large  heart'  might  have  been  his 
device,  as  of  the  Huguenots  of  other  days.  What 
largeness  of  heart,  indeed,  and  what  love  of  souls  was 
his !  I  have  better  understood,  since  I  knew  him, 
how  it  is  that  St.  John,  the  seer  of  Patmos,  who  in 
the  opened  sky,  sees  the  Word  of  God,  the  Faithful 
and  True,  as  a  horseman  armed  with  a  sword  to  smite 
the  nations,  who  declares  to  whoever  hears  the 
words  of  His  Book,  that  if  any  one  adds  or  takes  away, 
God  will  add  to  him  the  plagues  ^mtten  in  His 
Book, — will  take  away  his  part  in  the  tree  of  life, 
and  will  shut  him  out  from  the  holy  city, — how  the 
St.  John  who  writes  these  terrible  things  should  be 
the  same  apostle  who  has  bequeathed  to  us  the 
epistles  and  the  gospel  which  bear  his  name,  the 
apostle  of  love,  he  who  under  the  snows  of  his  old 
age  summed  up  the  teaching  of  his  Master  in  the 
words,  '  Little  children,  love  one  another.'  Yes, 
there  was  something  of  the  St.  John  in  this  valiant 
and  faithful  servant  of  Jesus  Christ,  whom  his  Master 
has  called  so  early  to  Himself.  To  the  firmness  of  the 
apostle  against  the  heresies  and  infidelities  which 
bring  down  condemnation  upon  an  evil  world,  he 
allied  the  mercy  and  condescension  of  the  'well- 
beloved    disciple'  for  the  outcasts,  the  little   ones, 


242        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

the  poor,  the  lost,  whom  the  Son  of  Man  came  to 
seek  and  to  save.  I  seem  to  see  him  in  that  heaven 
where  now  he  has  '  entered  into  the  joy  of  his 
Lord,' — I  see  him  forming  part  of  one  of  those 
mystic  tribes  of  Israel  (like  the  Scottish  clans), 
each  of  which  has  an  apostle  at  its  head.  He 
belongs  to  the  '  clan '  of  the  disciple  whom  Jesus 
loved.  He  enters  and  goes  out  by  these  doors  of 
pearl,  which  are  never  shut  at  the  fall  of  day ;  for 
there  is  no  night.  The  city  has  no  need  of  the 
sun  or  of  the  moon  to  lighten  it, — for  the  glory 
of  God  lightens  it,  and  the  Lamb  is  its  light.  There 
is  no  more  curse  there.  The  servants  of  God  serve 
Him,  they  see  His  face, — His  name  is  on  their  fore- 
heads.    And  they  shall  reign  for  ever  and  ever. 

"  Though  his  years  were  short,  yet  how  full  they 
were ;  and  what  a  noble  sheaf  of  souls  he  has  been 
able  to  lay  down  at  his  Master's  feet.  He  might 
have  answered  like  Arnaud,  the  great  Jansenist, 
when  they  spoke  to  him  of  rest,  '  We  have  all 
eternity  to  rest  in.'  Was  it  a  presentiment  that 
his  time  of  action  would  be  short,  and  that  he  must 
redeem  the  time  so  much  the  more  ?  I  do  not 
know;  but  all  those  who  knew  him  know  that  he 
was  always  ready  to  bear  witness  to  his  faith,  always 
disposed  for  Gospel-work,  always  in  quest  of  souls 
whom  he  could  lead  to  Christ. 


A 


merica. 


243 


"  From  the  second  or  third  day  of  our  voyage,  I 
remember  seeing  him  seeking  souls  to  enlighten  and 
save,  distributing  his  tracts  and  gospels,  always  with 
some  kind  word  of  interest  and  sympathy.  Thus 
occupied,  he  found  something  to  make  his  heart  glad. 
Among  the  passengers  were  a  band  of  Parisian  dress- 
makers and  milliners,  going  'for  the  season'  to 
New  York.  One  of  these,  he  found,  had  attended 
Mr.  M'All's  station  of  Bercy,  and  had  received 
religious  impressions  there,  which  seemed  deep  and 
lasting.  Thus  the  'bread  cast  upon  the  waters' 
was  found  when  we  least  expected  it.  Glad  to 
discover  one  of  the  fruits  of  the  Mission,  my  friend 
did  not  fail  to  devote  some  minutes  to  this  girl 
each  day,  fortifying  her  faith,  warning  her  against 
the  dangers  she  might  meet  with  in  New  York,  and 
giving  her  introductions  to  some  Christian  friends  in 
that  city. 

"  In  the  next  cabin  to  ours  was  a  woman  who  had 
undertaken  the  long  voyage  to  America  on  account 
of  money  affairs,  with  a  child  of  two  years  old.  She 
was  tormented  by  sea-sickness  and  by  anxiety ;  and 
for  many  days  she  could  not  leave  her  cabin.  My 
friend  interested  himself  in  her.  She  was  lonely,  he 
visited  her ;  discouraged,  he  cheered  her ;  irritable 
and  anxious,  he  reassured  her.  Above  all,  he  directed 
her  to  the   source  of  all  peace  and  true   comfort. 


244        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 

telling  her  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  giving  her  a  Bible, 
She  received  the  gift  with  much  gratitude,  for,  she 
said,  she  had  long  desired  to  possess  this  book.  She 
promised,  when  she  should  return  to  Paris,  to  attend 
the  evangelical  meeting  in  her  quarter. 

"  We  had  left  Havre  in  a  pretty  rough  sea.  But 
on  the  24th,  as  we  were  approaching  the  banks  of 
Newfoundland,  we  were  assailed  by  a  storm.  Our 
ship  seemed  to  writhe  like  an  immense  snake  under 
the  shock  of  the  sea  and  the  hurricane.  But  with 
the  exception  of  some  little  accidents  which  delayed 
our  arrival  a  day,  all  went  well,  and  we  had  only  the 
majesty,  without  the  terror,  of  the  spectacle  of  the 
'  great  waters.'  On  the  morning  of  Sunday,  the 
26th,  the  tempest  was  at  rest,  and  the  Lord  made 
His  beautiful  sun  to  shine  on  us  again.  All  hearts 
were  full  of  thankfulness,  and  after  deliberations 
between  Mr.  Dodds,  Mr.  Mobille,  and  myself,  we 
arranged  for  two  services,  which  the  captain  willingly 
announced.  The  first,  in  English,  was  held  at  eleven, 
in  a  small  first-class  saloon,  as  only  about  a  score  of  the 
passengers  were  English  or  American.  Mr.  Dodds' 
address,  from  the  29th  Psalm,  was  particularly  suited 
to  our  circumstances,  impressive,  and  powerful.  At 
two  o'clock  a  second  meeting,  in  French,  took  place 
in  the  second-class  dining-room.  We  found  there 
about  forty  Protestant  emigrants,  men  and  women, 


America.  245 


from  Switzerland  or  the  country  of  Montbeliard  for 
the  most  part.  These  good  people  seemed  fall  of 
joy  at  the  thought  of  having  a  meeting.  Mr.  Dodds 
chose  a  tune  which  they  said  they  knew,  and  for 
some  moments  there  was  a  terrible  discord,  in  which 
a  hearty  country-woman  from  Montbeliard  particu- 
larly distinguished  herself  But  so  much  faith  and 
heart  went  into  the  song,  that  to  God  it  must  have 
been  more  accej^table  than  the  finest  music.  Some 
Catholic  emigrants  had  joined  us,  and  told  us  the 
favourable  impression  which  they  had  received.  Mr. 
Dodds  gave  them  tracts,  which  they  promised  to  read. 

"  We  noticed  one  thing.  In  this  crowd  of  500 
passengers  or  emigrants,  the  greater  part  Catholics, 
there  were,  besides  the  BishojD  of  New  Orleans,  two 
or  three  priests.  But  not  one  occupied  himself  that 
day  (nor,  so  far  as  we  knew,  on  the  other  days)  with 
the  religious  wants  of  these  people.  Worship,  for 
them,  is  the  mass,  and  they  could  not  say  the  mass 
without  altar,  acolytes,  scarf,  stole  and  surplice,  and 
all  the  apparatus  of  their  sacred  tinsel !  What  con- 
demnation of  Popery  in  that  simple  fact !  Can  you 
imagine  St.  Paul,  on  his  way  to  Rome,  hindered  from 
preaching  the  Gospel  because  he  has  not  chasuble 
— nor  I'ostensoir  et  la  i^atene. 

"  On  Wednesday,  the  29th,  at  six  o'clock  in  the 
evening,  the  shores  of  Long  Island  were  sighted,  to 


246        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

our  great  joy.  On  Thursday  morning  we  were,  at 
last,  at  New  York,  in  a  hospitable  house,  that  of  M. 
Elie  Charlier,  son  of  a  French  pastor. 

"  The  warm  welcome  of  several  Christian  friends, 
notably  the  Rev.  Mr.  W.  Newell  and  the  Eev.  Dr. 
Beard, — the  bright  sun  which  shone  that  day  upon 
American  soil,  and  which  accompanied  us  henceforth 
until  half  November  was  over, — the  pleasure  of  at 
last  being  upon  terra  firr)ia  {le  plancher  des  vaches) 
after  rolling  about  on  the  liquid  element  for  twelve 
days — all  contributed  to  raise  our  spirits,  and  to  make 
us  feel  as  if  our  future  journeying  were  to  be  begun 
under  happy  auspices. 

"  For  we  were  not  come  to  rest,  and  were  scarcely 
on  land,  when  we  bethought  ourselves  of  continuing 
our  way.  The  Presbyterian  Council  was  already 
sitting  at  Philadelphia,  and  as  our  vessel  had  been 
delayed,  we  had  not  an  instant  to  lose,  if  we  would 
arrive  before  the  close  of  that  great  Assembly,  com- 
posed of  representatives  of  so  many  nations. 

"  Late  as  was  our  arrival,  a  large  space  had  been 
allotted  in  the  programme  of  the  Council  for  us  and 
our  message.  That  evening  we  had  to  address  an 
audience  of  more  than  4000  persons  in  the  great 
Music  Hall,  Mr.  Dodds  kindly  translating  into  Eng- 
lish what  I  said  in  my  native  tongue.  Although 
this  task  seemed  to  leave  him  only  the  second  rSle 


America.  247 


in  our  association,  when  he  ought  to  have  had  the 
first ;  yet  he  apphed  himself  to  it  with  all  his  heart,  and 
with  the  conscientious  application  which  he  brought 
to  bear  on  everything,  and  I  have  reason  to  believe 
that  my  discourses  lost  much  of  their  dross  by  the 
transmutation  which  they  underwent,  through  him, 
into  a  foreign  tongue. 

"  I  should  be  very  ungrateful  if  I  did  not  confess 
all  the  obligations  I  owed  to  him  during  these  three 
months  of  our  stay  in  America.  As  I  hardly  knew 
English  as  a  spoken  language  at  that  time,  I  was 
forced  continually  to  recur  to  my  obliging  dragoman 
to  explain  to  me  what  was  going  on,  or  to  interpret 
what  I  had  to  say.  Some  men  would  have  been 
impatient,  but  he  was  only  glad  to  find  occasions  to 
help  me,  and  rendered  the  service  always  with  the 
best  grace  possible,  constituting  himself  not  only  my 
interpreter,  but  my  professor,  and  teaching  me  to 
understand  and  to  speak  English.  He  was  the  eye 
of  the  blind  and  the  tongue  of  the  dumb ;  and  to 
him  I  owe  any  power  I  have  at  present  of  enjoying, 
when  far  from  my  own  country,  the  conversation  and 
society  of  human  beings.  I  may  be  allowed  to  men- 
tion this  personal  detail  for  the  sake  of  expressing 
my  gratitude  to  his  dear  memory. 

"  Our  common  friend,  the  Rev.  Dr.  A.  F.  Beard — 
I  say  our  friend,  for,  from  the  first  day  we  met  him 


248        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 

we  felt  a  friendship  which  time  only  deepened — was 
charged,  at  the  request  of  the  American  and  Foreign 
Christian  Union,  with  the  duty  of  organising  our 
missionary  tour.  His  active  impulse  did  not  let  us 
linger.  In  fifteen  days  we  had  already  rolled  on  all 
the  railways  of  eastern  America ;  hastening  from 
New  York  to  Philadelphia ;  from  Philadelphia  to 
New  York  and  Boston ;  from  Boston  to  Lowell, 
where  we  took  part  in  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Mis- 
sions ;  from  Lowell  to  Providence ;  and  from  Provi- 
dence to  Norwich,  where  we  found  a  home  of  more 
than  ordinary  hospitality,  in  the  house  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Leonard  Bacon,  who  had  just  published  in 
favour  of  our  mission  a  pamphlet,  entitled  '  God's 
Wonderful  Work  in  France ;  an  Introduction  of 
the  Deputation  from  the  Protestants  of  France 
to  the  American  Churches,'  and  which  was  truly  a 
great  help  in  opening  our  way  and  creating  sympathy 
for  us.  From  Norwich,  where  we  had  also  the 
advantage  of  being  present  at  the  General  Union  of 
the  American  Missionary  Association,  we  turned 
our  steps  successively  to  Newburyport,  where  we 
preached  in  the  church  where  Whitfield  is  buried, — 
to  New  Britain,  New  Haven,  Hartford,  Amherst, 
Springfield, — received  everywhere  with  a  brotherly 
hospitality  which  was  truly  touching;    everywhere 


America.  249 


finding  churches  ready  to  receive  our  message; 
everywhere  seeing  interest  awakened  in  the  news  of 
France  which  we  brought  them ;  everywhere  seeing 
the  sympathy  which  was  felt  produce  practical  results 
in  the  shape  of  dollars. 

"  My  part  in  these  meetings  was  the  easiest.  I  had 
only  to  introduce  the  subject  by  speaking  of  the 
religious  condition  of  France,  the  present  facilities 
for  evangelisation,  and  the  need  we  have  of  help  in 
doing  this  work,  which  is  much  beyond  our  strength. 
Mr.  Dodds,  after  having  translated  my  discourse, 
began  to  speak  for  himself,  and  on  the  canvas  which 
I  had  spread  out  he  embroidered  a  number  of  con- 
siderations, which  were  original,  ingenious,  powerful, 
well  fitted  to  touch  and  to  move  the  hearers,  and  to 
deepen  the  impressions  which  my  words  might  have 
left  floating  on  the  surface.  After  the  meetings  it 
was  he  who  had  to  answer  the  questions  put  by  one 
and  another.  It  was  he  who,  in  the  course  of  the 
day,  made  the  visits  judged  necessary,  to  Christians 
interested  in  our  work.  It  was  he  who  had  to  take 
the  steps  which  ended,  after  a  good  deal  of  delibera- 
tion, in  the  gift  of  15,000  dollars,  made  by  Mrs.  V. 
Stone  to  our  different  societies.  But  it  was  not  on 
the  visible  success  of  our  mission  that  my  friend 
relied,  and  toward  which  he  employed  all  his  faculties. 
Care  for  the  collections  did  not  make  him  forget  the 


250        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

more  important  work  among  souls,  and  each  time 
that  he  found  opportunity,  he  addressed  to  one  an 
encouraging  word,  to  another  an  appeal  to  come  and 
help  in  the  French  mission.  I  know  two  or  three 
students  of  divinity  who  promised  him  to  come  to 
France,  bringing  the  help  of  their  arms  to  the  white 
harvest.  One  of  these  is  now  pastor  at  Dertuis,  in 
the  department  of  Vaucluse,  a  field  once  watered  by 
the  blood  of  the  Vaudois  of  Provence. 

"  Cleveland,  Pittsburg,  Columbus,  were  the  prin- 
cipal stages  of  our  journey  westward.  The  distances 
were  long,  and  we  were  obliged  to  spend  nights  in 
the  sleeping-cars.  In  this  necessity  of  daily  loco- 
motion, one  may  imagine  how  all  our  habits  were 
upset ;  how  we  slept  and  took  food  how  and  when 
we  could.  This  reminds  me  of  an  involuntary  fast 
which  my  friend  had  to  make,  and  which  was  worth 
double  rations  to  me.  Leaving  Springfield  for 
Cleveland,  we  started  immediately  after  the  meet- 
ing, and  had  barely  the  time  to  fasten  our  trunks, 
and  to  carry  off  some  sandwiches.  In  spite  of  my 
friend's  warning  that  these  should  not  be  of  ham 
(he  laughingly  professed  a  pious  horror  for  the 
swine's  flesh),  we  found,  when  we  tasted  our  sand- 
wiches, that  the  order  had  been  transgressed,  and 
that  the  rosy  flesh  of  the  unclean  animal  disclosed 
itself  between  the  slices.      At  this  sight  my  friend 


America.  251 


gave  a  cry  of  horror ;  1  asked  the  cause  ;  '  But,  at 
least,  leave  the  ham,  you  can  eat  the  bread  and  but- 
ter!'  Alas,  no;  I  had  to  eat  my  companion's  share 
as  well  as  my  own,  while  he  contented  himself  with 
eating  an  orange,  of  which  I  made  the  exchange. 
It  was  low  diet  for  a  man  who  had  eaten  nothing 
since  the  morning,  and  who  had  to  wait  till  ten 
o'clock  next  day  before  he  had  the  chance  to  procure 
more.  Besides,  he  had  to  submit  to  my  pitiless 
jokes  about  his  anti-Christian  prejudices,  which 
I  said  proved  him  to  be  descended  from  one  of  the 
lost  ten  tribes !  I  think  I  hear  still  his  hearty,  open- 
hearted  laugh  at  these  witticisms,  which  the  reader 
may  not  think  very  Attic.  But  far  as  we  were  from 
both  ancient  and  modern  Athens,  we  were  not  very 
difficult  to  please  as  to  Attic  salt ;  and  as  laughter 
(as  an  old  author  says)  is  the  special  property  of 
man,  and  as  joy  is  also  the  property  of  the  Christian, 
we  often  found  ourselves,  without  any  better  pretext, 
beguiling  the  length  of  the  way  by  bantering  each 
other,  and  making  jokes  without  malice,  which 
sufficed  to  put  us  in  good  humour. 

"  At  St.  Louis  I  was  seized  with  sore  throat,  and 
my  friend,  after  having  done  all  he  could  for  my 
comfort,  was  obliged  to  double  his  effi^rts,  and,  with- 
out interrupting  his  work  a  single  day,  to  accomplish 
alone   what   we   had  been   in  the   habit   of  doing 


252         Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

together.  What  energy  and  courage  were  his  in 
the  Lord's  work  !  He  thus  visited  alone  the  towns 
of  Cincinnati  and  Indianopolis,  and  held  there  suc- 
cessful meetings.  In  one  of  these  towns  he  experi- 
enced one  of  the  purest  joys  of  his  journey.  A 
little  community  of  Chinese — laundryonen  by  trade 
— had  been  converted  to  the  Gospel.  On  hearing 
my  friend  speak  of  the  needs  of  France,  these  con- 
verts felt  pressed  in  their  heart  to  contribute  their 
part  to  the  work,  and  at  the  close  of  his  meeting 
they  brought  to  him  a  round  sum  of  thirty  dollars, 
which  they  had  saved  from  their  scanty  wages. 
I  was  singularly  touched  myself  on  learning  this  fact, 
that  Chinese  Christians  should  contribute  to  the 
evangelisation  of  my  countrymen. 

"  I  have  in  my  hands  a  letter,  dated  from  St.  Louis, 
where  Mr.  Dodds  again  joined  me,  and  which  well 
shows  the  fine  qualities  of  his  soul,  and  the  zeal  for 
the  Master  which  devoured  him.  I  ought  to  have 
said  already  that,  in  the  midst  of  his  superabundant 
occupations,  our  friend  still  found  time  (taking  ifc 
oftenest  from  his  night's  rest)  to  keep  up  an  active 
correspondence,  not  only  with  his  own  friends  in  the 
flesh,  but  with  those  who  were  his  by  spiritual  ties, 
— spiritual  children,  for  whom  he  felt  all  the  love 
and  solicitude  of  a  father.  The  letter  which  follows 
was  given  me,  a  short  time  before  her  death,  by  the 


America,  253 


lady  to  whom   it  was  addressed, — Madame  T- 


who  had  been  converted  at  a  somewhat  advanced  age 
through  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Dodds  : — 

"  '  St.  Louis,  Wih  November. 

" '  My  Dear  Madame,— I  liave  often  tliouglit  of  you,  and 
also  heard  of  you  from  Mrs.  Dodds,  who  told  me  of  your  fre- 
quent visits  to  tliem.  My  children  have  got  to  know  and  love 
you,  and  my  wife  and  I  often  speak  of  your  kindness  to  us 
and  to  them.  I  have  been  very  busy  since  arriving  in  New 
York,  after  a  rather  stormy  but,  on  the  whole,  agreeable 
passage.  We  go  from  place  to  place,  and  travel  a  great  deal, 
and,  consequently,  are  often  very  tired.  One  is  hurled  along 
in  the  railway  at  a  great  pace,  and  at  night  you  can  have  a 
sleeping-car  with  a  bed,  which  looks  very  comfortable,  but 
where  I  do  not  sleep  much.  Here  I  am  at  St.  Louis,  in  the 
far  West ;  but  although  it  takes  a  day  or  two  to  reach  this  city 
from  New  York,  it  is  only  midway  in  the  American  Conti- 
nent, and  it  would  take  four  days  to  get  to  San  Francisco.  It 
is  indeed  a  great  country,  and  a  great  and  noble  people. 
Christianity,  and  the  principles  brought  over  by  the  Pilgrim 
Fathers  when  they  crossed  the  sea  to  have  freedom  to  worship 
God  according  to  their  conscience,  have  made  America  what 
she  is.  I  find  a  good  many  French  people  scattered  over  the 
States,  and  at  the  end  of  meetings  they  come  up  to  speak  to 
us,  and  thank  us  for  the  good  news  we  bring  of  the  Gospel  in 
France,  and  how  multitudes  flock  to  hear  the  good  news.  We 
have  very  often  services  three  times  on  Sunday.  I  hope  that 
we  are  going  to  carry  back  with  us  from  the  States  a  good 
large  fund  for  the  evangelisation  of  France ;  but  we  do  not 
know  as  yet  if  much  has  been  collected,  and  some  of  the  largest 
cities  are  still  to  be  visited. 

"  '  I  like  being  here  very  much,  and  meet  with  many  very 
hospitable  friends,  who  entertain  us  wherever  we  go,  and  do 


254        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

all  that  can  be  done  to  help  ns.  But  I  am  longing  to  be  in 
Paris  again,  and  at  work  in  the  Mission.  It  is  a  long  time  to 
be  away,  and  absent  from  my  wife  and  children,  and  from  all 
the  friends  at  Paris  and  in  the  Mission.  But  I  feel  that  there 
is  such  a  wide  door  open  to  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  in 
France  that  I  must  seize  the  great  opportunity  presented  to 
me  of  interesting  friends  in  America  in  our  work,  else  the 
time  to  do  so  may  never  come  round  again.  If  France  were 
Protestant,  if  God's  Word  were  known  and  loved,  what  a  great 
country  she  would  be,  and  how  good  would  be  her  influence 
over  other  nations  in  Europe. 

"  '  I  hope,  dear  Madame,  that  you  are  well,  and  able  to  take 
an  interest  this  winter,  to  some  small  extent,  in  the  work  of 
the  Mission.  If  your  health  does  not  permit  you  to  go  out 
much,  remember  that  you  can  always  pray  for  God's  work,  and 
the  coming  of  Christ's  kingdom.  What  consolation,  what 
strength,  what  joy  do  we  find  in  prayer  !  It  brings  the  Lord 
Jesus  so  close  to  us  !  It  makes  Him  a  fnsonal  Friend,  who 
sympathises  with  us  in  all  our  troubles  and  temptations  ;  who 
knows  our  hearts  and  our  wants  better  than  we  do  ourselves  ; 
and  who  loves  us  with  a  free,  full,  and  unchangeable  love. 
The  more  we  know  of  that  love,  the  more  shall  our  soul  be 
filled  with  His  peace,  and  light,  and  love.  Christ  shall  be  to 
us  a  living,  faithful  Friend — so  near,  so  real  to  us,  that  His 
comforting  grace  and  voice  shall  be  heard  amidst  all  our 
temptations,  and  frailties,  and  sins.  "  Lo,  I  am  with  ijou 
always  ;  that  is,  all  the  days  of  this  life,  be  they  sad  or  joyful 
or  filled  with  pain  or  ease,  I  am  with  you  all  these  days,  even 
unto  the  end  of  the  world,"  when  you  shall  enter  into  His  pre- 
sence, redeemed  by  His  j)recious  blood,  and  never  more  go 
out.  All  the  trials  and  little  anxieties  of  time  are  nothing  in 
comparison  with  the  eternity  of  joy  which  awaits  us  in 
heaven. 

"  '  If  you  can  find  time  to  write  me  a  short  letter,  and  give 


America.  255 


me  "  (Zes  nouveUes  "  from  Paris,  I  shall  be  very  mucli  pleased  to 
receive  it.  I  pray  that  you  may  grow  in  the  grace  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  knowing  Him  and  the  power  of  His  Kesur- 
rection.'  * 

"  '  To  grow  in  the  grace  of  God  and  of  the  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ '  was  the  aim  of  this  faithful  disciple  of 
Christ.  He  aspired  to  receive  from  the  fulness  of 
the  Master  grace  on  grace  and  truth  on  truth.  He 
had  the  high  ambition  of  holiness ;  to  be  perfect  as 
our  Father  in  heaven  is  perfect.  I  consider  as  one 
of  my  highest  privileges,  and  the  source  of  much 
blessing  to  my  soul,  the  having  lived  for  three 
months  in  the  intimacy  of  this  beautiful  soul,  which 
laid  itself  bare,  as  it  were,  in  fervent  prayers  with 
me,  morning  and  evening.     How  I  liked  to  hold  my 

*  This  dear  friend  has  followed  her  young  father  and  teacher  in 
Christ  to  glory,  August,  1883.  She  was  a  Protestant  by  birth,  but 
knew  nothing  of  the  personal  friendship  of  Jesus.  The  deep  sorrows 
of  a  long  life  had  almost  broken  her  heart.  Bereaved  of  her  hus- 
band and  all  her  children,  left  alone  in  the  world  with  her  most 
loving  heart,  she  could  see  nothing  to  live  for,  and  would  gladly 
often  have  ended  it  in  her  despair.  She  had  often,  she  said,  *'  tried 
to  become  a  Catholic,"  to  see  if  she  could  get  some  comfort ;  but 
her  strong  mind  refused  to  be  treated  thus.  At  last,  at  the  Tro- 
caddro  Salle,  she  heard  the  message  her  soul  needed,  and  the 
remaining  years  of  her  life  were  happy  in  the  love  of  Christ,  and  in 
making  others  happy.  What  a  friend  she  was  in  many  homes! — 
to  little  children  and  to  the  suffering  !  How  many  remember  her 
in  connection  with  the  meetings  at  Passy  or  Versailles  !  How  many 
mourn  deeply  for  her  now  ! 


256        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

'  peace  to  listen  to  him  praying  !  What  tenderness  of 
conscience  !  What  abasement  of  himself,  and  of 
what  he  still  attributed  to  himself  of  self-love  and 
self-righteousness  !  What  boundings  of  heart  toward 
the  eternal  hills  whence  came  his  help  !  What  filial 
confidence  in  God  !  What  hunger  and  thirst  after 
righteousness  !  Ah,  if  any  one  ever  loved  the  king- 
dom of  Christ,  and  longed  for  His  coming;  if  any 
one  ever  consecrated  himself  entirely  to  the  service 
of  the  Master,  it  was  he.  What  a  religion  it  is 
which  begets  such  men,  and  forms  such  characters  ! 
To  God  alone,  holy  and  just,  be  the  glory  for  ever 
and  ever.     A'men  ! 

"  I  will  pass  quickly  over  the  last  stages  and  inci- 
dents of  our  journey.  My  friend  was  not  insensible, 
any  more  than  myself,  to  the  great  scenes  of  nature, 
and  to  the  marvels  of  human  industry;  and  he 
might  have  said,  with  the  Latin  poet,  '  Homo  sum, 
et  nihil  humani  a  me  alienum  puto ;'  or  rather  (for 
he  made  a  choice  between  one  art,  one  taste,  and 
another),  he  might  have  repeated,  with  the  great 
apostle,  that  '  All  that  is  true,  all  that  is  honourable, 
all  that  is  just,  all  that  is  pure,  all  that  is  lovely,  all 
that  is  of  good  report,  all  that  is  virtuous  and  worthy 
of  praise,'  was  thought  of  by  him.  At  Pittsburg, 
the  black  city,  the  city  of  the  coal  and  the  trades 
that  spring  from  it,  we  ascended,  to  enjoy  a  view 


America.  257 


which  is  quite  unique,  the  heights  which  bear  still 
the  name  of  "  Fort  Duquesne," — a  fort  built  in  days 
when  the  French  banner  floated  over  the  basins  of 
the  Mississippi  and  the  Ohio.  At  St.  Louis  we 
gazed  on  the  majestic  course  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
had  admired  the  gigantic  bridge  which  the  Ameri- 
cans have  thrown  over  its  turbid  waters.  At  Chicago, 
the  immense  slaughter-houses,  whence  goes  out  the 
preserved  meat  of  the  world,  excited  our  astonish- 
ment; while  the  glorious  views  of  Lake  Michigan 
filled  our  hearts  with  admiration  for  the  magnifi- 
cence of  creation.  Detroit,  daintily  situated  on  the 
wide  canal  or  strait  which  unites  the  Lakes  Huron 
and  Erie,  and  which  has  given  its  name  to  the  town, 
left  us  also  pleasant  remembrances.  But  the  crown- 
ing-point of  our  journey,  as  far  as  picturesque 
impressions  went,  was  the  spectacle  of  Niagara. 

"  After  this  day,  marked  with  letters  of  gold,  spent 
at  Niagara,  we  separated  for  a  week,  he  going  to 
Toronto,  I  to  Montreal,  to  plead  the  same  cause 
among  the  French  Canadians  of  Quebec.  We  met 
again  at  Boston,  where  arrangements  had  been  made 
for  our  speaking  many  times.  The  last  part  of  our 
journey  was  not  the  least  fatiguing,  for  in  three  weeks 
we  had  to  respond  to  appeals  from  the  principal 
congregations  of  New  York,  Brooklyn,  Princeton, 
Philadelphia,  Washington,  Baltimore,  but  also  it  was 


258        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.   T.  Dodds. 

the  most  fruitful.  One  Sunday  alone  at  New  York 
we  collected  8000  dollars,  having  spoken  before  three 
assemblies,  which  meant  that  Mr.  Dodds  had  given 
(counting  the  translations  which  he  made  for  me)  six 
addresses.  We  might  now  reckon  up  the  tangible 
results  of  our  mission ;  we  carried  back  to  France 
(including  Mrs.  Stone's  gift)  about  150,000  francs 
(£6000),  and  we  left  behind  us  a  current  which  would 
not  cease  to  flow,  of  active  sympathy  for  the  work  of 
God  in  France.  The  result  had  surpassed  our  hopes, 
and  we  rejoiced  both  for  ourselves  and  in  thinking  of 
the  satisfaction  of  our  senders,  of  the  directors  of  the 
Societies  which  had  sent  us  out,  the  excellent  M. 
Fisch,  Mr.  M'All,  M.  Lorraine,  and  Mr.  Gustave 
Meyer.  It  was  enough  for  my  ambition,  and  I  felt 
inclined  to  say  with  the  old  Entellus, 

" '  Hie  coestiTS  artemque  repono.' 

'*  My  companion,  however,  did  not  sympathise  with 
me.  Fatigued  no  doubt  he  was,  and  often  feverish, 
his  muscles  wearied,  his  nerves  on  the  stretch,  his 
features  sharpened  (etires),  everything  said  to  him 
rest.  But  he  never  reckoned  with  his  weariness,  never 
spared  his  strength  when  his  Master's  service  required 
it.  It  seemed  to  him  that  he  had  done  nothing  while 
there  remained  anything  to  do.  Encouraged  by  the 
yesults  which  we  had  obtained,  he  thought  of  them 


America.  259 


only  as  the  first-fruits  of  what  we  might  yet  achieve 
in  America.  Everywhere  friends  assured  him  that 
the  interest  of  the  great  American  continent  was  only 
beginning  to  awake  around  our  work,  and  that  if  we 
could  remain  two  months, — three  months,  we  might 
carry  back  to  France  many  times  what  we  had  as  yet 
received.  His  heart  leapt  at  these  assurances,  which 
were  confirmed  by  the  steadily  progressive  rate  of 
our  collections. 

"  '  Our  duty  is  to  remain,'  he  said  to  me,  one  day. 
I  assured  him  no ; — our  duties  recalled  us  to  France ; 
besides  we  were  exhausted,  we  had  done  what  might 
be  reasonably  expected  of  us,  &c.  He  insisted,  with 
what  persuasive  force,  with  what  infectious  warmth, 
I  shall  always  remember.  He  had  convinced  my 
conscience  and  my  heart,  but  my  selfishness  resisted 
still.  '  At  least  a  fortnight  V  '  No  ! '  '  Eight  days  ? ' 
'  Impossible,  remain  if  you  will,  I  am  going  to  leave  on 
the  day  originally  fixed.'  We  had,  on  this  subject, 
our  first  conflict  since  we  had  known  each  other,  the 
first  shade  which  threatened  to  trouble  our  perfect 
intercourse.  The  cloud  was  very  ephemeral.  My 
generous  friend  yielded  to  me,  gave  up  his  own 
desire,  and,  moreover,  he  did  not  bear  me  any  malice, 
but  was  as  cordial,  brotherly,  amiable  during  our 
return  voyage  as  he  had  ever  been.  He  told  himself, 
doubtless,  that  he   only  relinquished  the   work   in 


26o        Memoir  of  Rev.  G,  T.  Dodds, 

America  to  take  it  up  in  another  form  in  France,  and 
that  it  did  not  matter  how  he  served,  provided  he 
served.  Scarcely,  indeed,  had  he  returned,  than  he 
was  again  in  harness  at  the  M'All  Mission,  and  his 
first  leisure-time  has  been  in  the  eternal  plains ! 
There  he  rests  from  his  labours,  while  his  works  con- 
tinue here  below  to  bear  fruit.  That  fragrance  of 
Christ  which  he  always  bore  with  him,  and  which 
won  so  many  souls  to  the  cause  of  the  God  of  love, 
still  lingers  over  the  place  which  he  occupied,  the 
spots  which  he  passed  over  while  on  earth.  Among 
those  who  knew  him,  how  many  there  are  for  whom 
his  contact  has  been  a  blessing  for  the  present  life 
and  for  that  which  is  to  come.  And  he  who  writes 
these  lines,  though  he  knows  well  his  unworthiness  in 
comparison  with  that  choice  vessel  which  God  has 
taken  to  Himself,  yet,  moved  to  the  depths  by  the 
stroke  which  has  taken  from  him  the  dear  companion 
of  his  pilgrimage,  believes  that  the  love  of  Christ 
which  brought  them  together  here,  for  a  few  days . 
too  quickly  passed,  will  bring  them  together  again 
for  an  eternity  of  happiness." 

Such  is  the  vivid  narrative  of  M.  Reveillaud. 

Were  it  not  for  unduly  prolonging  the  narrative  of 
this  American  episode,  I  would  give  several  of  his 
own  letters  at  length,  both  on  board  ship  and  during 
his  stay  in  the  country.     In  one  of  these  he  speaks 


America.  261 


of  setting  himself  to  study  the  Icelandic,  and  remarks, 
"It  is  a  fine,  noble,  vigorous  language,  like  the 
Gothic ;  for  that  reason  I  am  studjdng  it,  but  one 
can't  do  much  on  board."  In  another,  he  writes  of 
his  companion,  "  After  dinner,  went  to  the  Council ; 
Rdveillaud  had  the  time  to  himself  from  nine  o'clock, 
and  I  to  translate,  and  that  before  4000  people,  his 
success  depending  on  my  translation.  You  may 
imagine  I  felt  shaky.  I  'm  not  the  man  for  such  huge 
public  work.  Such  sentences  as  he  gave — ponderous 
and  very  literary  !  I  had  to  do  my  very  best, — no 
easy  matter.  But  the  people  applauded,  and  seemed 
to  welcome  him  warmly.  His  sentences  were  in 
themselves  most  effective.  I  can  easily  understand 
his  power  over  a  crowd."  * 

He  felt  the  want  of  devotional  exercises  at  the 
Council.  There  was  too  little  of  these  ;  and  rather 
much  hilarity.  But  he  enjoyed  exceedingly  the 
fellowship  of  the  brethren.  He  speaks  of  having 
found  the  Huguenot  element  strong  in  many  places, 

*  "It  is  no  easy  task  translating.  M.  K.  piles  up  such  huge 
sentences  sometimes,  in  such  fine,  terse,  nervous  French,  with  such 
correct  metaphors  !  I  enjoy  the  work ;  I  feel  that  we  are  indeed 
pleading  for  the  Gospel  in  France,  and  that  it  is  a  solemn,  most 
momentous  crisis  for  that  great  country  ;  every  door  open,  and  a 
welcome  to  the  Gospel ;  one  must  seize  it.  No  one  can  tell  when  it 
may  come  again.  ...  I  am  getting  quite  famous  as  a  translator  ; 
it  needs  one  to  know  his  style — long  involved  sentences  in  sentences. 
Now  I  can  manage  him,  though  he  sometimes  goes  on  to  an  alarming 
length  ;  but  it  is  of  no  use  trying  to  stop  him." 


262        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds, 

and  adds  *'  that  in  America  at  least  he  had  not  found 
the  seed  of  the  righteous  begging  bread."  Speak- 
ing specially  of  New  England,  he  writes :  ''  There 
the  Pilgrim  Fathers,  though  they  are  dead  long  ago, 
have  left  the  strong  impress  of  their  character  and 
religion  on  their  descendants.  I  found  in  them  more 
of  the  quiet,  reserved,  gentle  dignity  of  an  English 
home  than  anywhere  else.  They  are  recognisable 
everywhere  by  their  energy  and  devotion  in  church 
work,  and  their  healthy  orthodoxy. 

"  The  Puritan  element  in  America  makes  itself 
felt  everywhere,  and  to  it  the  nation  owes  much  of 
its  ideas  of  uprightness,  of  justice,  and  love  of  truth." 

After  saying  regarding  one  district,  "  We  do  not 
always  get  much  money,"  he  adds,  "  but  we  are  not 
here  only  to  get  dollars,  but  to  tell  God's  people 
what  is  being  done  in  France,  and  to  ask  their 
prayers.  I  'd  rather  have  a  hundred  praying  people 
behind  us  than  a  hundred  thousand  dollars ;  but 
both  are  good."  In  another  place,  after  referring  to 
an  audience  that  "  did  not  allow  themselves  to  be 
touched  deeply  in  their  pockets  by  anything  I  said," 
he  goes  on  to  speak  of  France,  and  its  "  great  crying 
and  pressing  needs  "  : — 

"  France,  that  great  country,  struggling  with  two 
demons, — superstition  and  infidelity ;  what  would  I 
not  give  to  see  her  set  free  and  drawn  to  Christianity 


America,  263 


by  the  attractive  power  of  the  crucified  Christ.  Oh, 
if  men  only  knew  how  great  the  opportunity  and  how 
critical  a  time,  nay  a  moment,  it  is  in  France,  and 
how  the  rise  or  fall  of  the  people  is  trembling  in 
the  balance,  how  the  chains  are  heavy  which  Rome 
and  Satan  have  welded  link  by  link  for  centuries, 
and  how  they  bind  and  enslave  a  noble  people,  sus- 
ceptible, as  are  few  others,  to  all  the  noble,  tender, 
and  generous  impulses  of  the  heart ;  if  they  only 
knew  what  that  craving  is  which  seeks  for  satisfac- 
tion to  the  deep  ineradicable  wants  of  man's  soul — 
the  need  of  God,  and  an  expiation  for  sin — a  craving 
which  one  can  hear  and  see  and  feel  in  France  at  the 
present  day,  they  would  give  of  their  means,  and 
young  men  would  crowd  to  the  mission-field,  rejoic- 
ing to  offer  themselves  for  the  advancement  of 
Christ's  kingdom.  It  may  be  the  last  opportunity  that 
Europe  shall  have.  I  wonder  if  the  Church  will  ever 
rise  to  the  full  consciousness  of  its  duty  regarding 
missions  ?  Ah !  I  feel  how  backward  I  have  been, 
how  little  I  have  felt  the  importance  of  my  work, 
and  how  superficially  I  have  understood  and  slightly 
experienced  and  partially  preached  the  great  wonder- 
ful fact  of  the  love  of  God  in  His  Son.  Pray 
that  I  may  return  to  Paris  more  fitted  than  ever  to 
use  every  moment  of  the  short  space  of  time  God 
gives  us,  in  which  to  work.'* 


264        Memoir  of  Rev,  G.  T.  Dodds. 

The  following  incident  relating  to  Chinese  gene- 
rosity and  politeness  is  touching  : — 

"  There  are  some  Chinese  men  and  boys  at  Indian- 
apolis ;  they  are  generally  poor,  being  laundrymen, 
or  having  some  other  such  occupation.  Some  are 
members  of  Dr.  Bartlett's  Church,  where  I  preached 
in  the  morning.  At  their  Sunday  school  afterwards, 
one  of  them  told  the  others  that  I  had  asked  for  help 
to  teach  the  French  about  Jesus  Christ.  These 
Chinamen  made  a  short  collection  among  themselves 
and  I  was  asked  to  come  and  receive  it.  They  met 
me  standing,  and  bowed  with  all  the  grace  and 
dignity  of  gentlemen.  The  collection  was  4.70  cents, 
almost  19s.  In  a  big  Methodist  Church  one  day  we 
did  not  get  as  much  as  that ! 

Then  he  closes  his  letter  thus : — 

"  It 's  a  race  for  riches  in  this  country,  and  a  fight 
for  life ;  and  all  Creation  groaneth.  I  often  weary  of 
it,  and  long  for  the  coming  day  of  the  new  Creation, 
when  the  Holy  King  shall  reign  over  a  holy  people 
in  a  peaceful  and  holy  land. 

"  Kiss  my  bairns,  and  give  affectionate  regard  to 
all."  * 

*  Frequent  are  the  home-references  and  home-longings  in  his 
letters.  *'  I  cling  to  that  crowded  city  of  Paris.  My  little  weans, 
Horace,  and  Boz,  and  Cornelius  (Henry),  how  I  wish  I  could  see  them 
all.  Well ;  'tis  a  lesson  of  patience,  and  it  is  good  to  learn  it.  Lex 
tua  Domine  mi,  lex  salubris." 


America.  265 


Of  Philadelphia  he  writes  : — "  I  do  love  this  quiet 
Quaker  town  with  its  streets  narrower  than  elsewhere, 
its  white  marble  steps  and  fronts;  sometimes  the 
whole  buildings  are  marble;  they  import  it  from 
Italy  as  ballast  in  the  ships,  and  pay  less  for  it 
imported  than  when  they  bring  it  from  their  own 
quarries." 

Speaking  of  another  place,  he  says  : — "  There  's  a 
great  lot  of  religious  life  and  zeal  here,  and  energy 
and  enthusiasm,  but  the  world  is  the  world  here  as 
much  as  anywhere  else,  and  it  seems  to  me  that  the 
great  thing  to  be  aimed  at  is  to  influence  society 
through  individuals,  and  these  must  be  trained  up. 
.  .  .  There  is  a  great  deal  of  theatre-going  among 
professing  Christians  in  the  States.  .  .  .  This  world- 
liness  in  the  Church  is  the  greatest  evil." 

"  Some  of  them  had  been  to  see  Sara  Bernhardt 
act ;  they  seemed  to  think  it  quite  the  thing.  Did 
they  know  what  we  know  in  Paris  of  the  bright 
young  lives  that  are  drawn  into  the  vortex  of  vice  by 
the  theatre  and  the  opera,  perhaps  they  would  have 
been  less  clamant  in  their  praise  of  her.  Oh  !  these 
worldly  would-be  Christians;  they  abound  in  this 
country.  Christian  parents  let  their  children  do 
things  which  I  hope  never  to  see  our  children 
think  of." 

Let  me  give  a  single  sentence  on  Niagara : — 


266        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

"And  yet  the  rocky  perpendicular  clitF,  which 
bounds  the  stream,  is  more  to  me  an  emblem  of 
strength  than  the  rushing  tumultuous  water;  the 
still  immoveable  rock  contrasted  with  the  never- 
ceasing  stream.  The  rock  is  a  symbol  of  strength. 
'  The  Lord  is  my  Rock  : '  it  is  the  enemy  that  comes 
in  like  a  flood ;  and  the  flood  is  the  emblem  of  de- 
struction :  'As  with  an  overflowing  flood  thou  carriest 
them  away.'  The  rock  watches  and  waits,  the  flood 
passes  on." 

He  passes  into  Canada,  and  thus  writes  of  it,  and 
gives  his  impressions  : — 

"I  enjoyed  finding  myself  once  more  in  a  land 
where  royalty  flourished  as  well  as  loyalty.  It  was  a 
pleasure  to  see  V.  R  on  waggons  and  house-stores, 
and  the  Queen's  head  on  the  silver ! 

"  I  addressed  the  students  in  Knox  College 
(Toronto),  the  professors  a  fine  body  of  young  men, 
whose  faces  and  singing  carried  me  back  to  Scotland. 

"I  have  been  greatly  rejoiced  in  many  places,  and 
not  least  in  Toronto,  by  the  deep  Christian  interest 
shown  in  our  work.  I  feel  that  there  are  many  pray- 
ing for  France,  and  if  these  prayers  go  up,  and  are 
mingled  with  the  yet  unanswered  prayers  of  the 
slaughtered,  banished  Huguenots,  shall  we  not  see 
an  abundant  answer,  and  a  rich  blessing  vouchsafed 
to  France.  .  .  .  How  unfit  and  unequal  I  am  to  this 


America.  267 


great  task  of  rousing  the  people  here,  and  raising  up 
France.  .  .  .  All  this  speaking  is  trying,  one  is  apt 
to  get  lifted  up,  and  yet  I  often  return  to  my  room 
at  night  humbled,  and  unworthy  in  my  own  eyes; 
how  much  more  in  God's.  I  feel  He  needs  pure,  clean 
vessels  for  the  work  of  the  sanctuary.  I  long  after 
this  purity,  after  the  great  grace  of  humility  and 
self-forgetfulness  in  doing  God's  will." 
Writing  from  Norwich,  he  says : — 

"The  coimtry  is  charming  as  we  swept  along  from  New 
York.  There  was  one  constant  succession  of  rivers,  sometimes 
lakes,  wooded  to  their  banks  and  shores  by  trees  in  all  the 
glory  of  American  autumn  foliage.  It  is  perfectly  exquisite  ; 
the  maple  is  sometimes  tipped  with  a  rosy  red,  sometimes  still 
preserving  its  lovely  tender  green  ;  these  are  intermingled 
again  with  dark  pines,  and  feathery  fading  birches,  and  here 
and  there  are  tracks  of  land  never  yet  redeemed  from  barren- 
ness, as  far  as  the  farmer  is  concerned,  covered  with  wild  vine, 
and  with  the  'Sumack'  (you  remember  it  in  France  in  our 
garden  at  Belleville),  which  becomes  here  in  autumn  a  flaming 
crimson  red.  So  you  see  there  is  colour  all  the  way  ;  a  blue 
distant  sky,  with  scattered  fleecy  clouds,  and  as  evening  comes 
on,  a  golden  glow  of  sunset  lighting  up  the  long  line  of  forest 
trees  on  the  horizon  with  its  own  light,  and  making  the  varied 
foliage  in  the  foreground  to  stand  out  in  striking  contrast  with 
the  heavy  shadows  that  are  cast  by  the  setting  sun." 

Links  between  the  old  and  the  new  are  thus 
touchingly  noticed : — 

"  There  are  old  memories  even  in  this  new  country. 


268        Memoir  of  Rev,  G.  T.  Dodds, 

We  had  a  meeting  in  the  church  where  Whitefield 
preached ;  a  good  congregation  came  out  to  hear  us, 
and  we  got  a  collection.  There  is  a  cenotaph  to 
Whitefield  in  the  church,  and  beneath,  in  a  sort  of 
vault,  the  coffin.  The  sexton  opens  the  lid  of  it, 
and  you  see  all  that  remains, — a  skull,  some  bones, 
and  mouldering  dust.  Though  it  is  rather  Ameri- 
can to  exhibit  skulls  in  that  way,  I  gazed  with 
interest  and  awe  on  the  remains  of  that  mighty 
evangelist.  The  head  is  striking;  a  broad  promi- 
nent brow.  Oh,  for  one  or  two  men  like  him,  to  shake 
our  old  country  in  Scotland  to  its  foundation,  and  to 
sweep  away  the  deadness  and  indifference  and  secur- 
ity that  are  bearing  such  disastrous  fruit  in  modern 
unbelief"  * 

I  have  compressed  the  American  narrative  into  as 
short  a  space  as  possible.     Rather  a  difficult  task  ! 

*  "  Life  is  at  high  pressure  here,  and  the  candle  is  being  burnt  at 
both  ends  everywhere  in  cities,  I  am  sure  matter  will  be  more 
obedient  to  man  in  the  New  Earth.  The  other  day,  in  one  of 
the  streets  of  New  York,  I  could  not  help  feeling  that  matter  is 
Icej^i  under  by  man,  not  mastered.  She  is  not  obedient  to  his  will, 
and  the  whole  creation  groaneth  and  travaileth.  On  both  sides  of 
the  streets  the  elevated  railway  spouting  out  steam  and  pouring 
down  water  and  bits  of  coal  from  time  to  time  ;  the  noise  was 
deafening,  and  yet  men  boast  of  all  'that  as  the  product  of  civilisa- 
tion. They  never  think  that  nerves  are  overstrung  and  disease 
nourished,  and  that  the  men  that  work  these  are  toiling,  suffering 
mortals ;  and  that  a  new  kingdom  and  king  and  a  purer,  loftier 
civilisation  are  needed." — Extract  from  Letter. 


America,  269 


What  with  letters  and  journals  and  oral  statements, 
the  details  are  both  numerous  and  interesting.  I 
have  not  done  justice  to  his  western  tour.  It  would 
require  to  be  written  more  fully  in  justice  to  him- 
self, and  no  less  in  justice  to  that  great  country  in 
which  he  would  have  been  delighted  to  linger.* 

I  give  his  summation  of  his  Transatlantic  work  : — 
"  I  was  eighty-three  days  in  America,  attended  ninety 
meetings,  and  spoke  and  interpreted  at  eighty-three. 
That  was  pretty  hard  work,  and  astonished  even  the 
Americans." 

He  passed  through  America  in  haste,  just  as  he 
passed  through  life.  Yet,  not  in  vain.  He  has  left 
traces  behind  him ;  and  many  Americans  warm  at 
the  mention  of  his  name. 

*  The  American  newspapers  gave  full  reports,  for  which  alone  a 
volume  would  be  required. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

VOYAGE  HOME — PARIS  WORK — WORK  IN  DIFFERENT 
TOWNS  —  SOJOURN  AT  CLERMONT-FERRAND  — 
VISIT  TO  THE  HAUTES  ALPES — RETURN  TO  PARIS. 

E  bids  farewell  to  America ;  yet  expecting  to 
return  for  a  longer  visit,  and  a  wider  range 
of  work.     This  he  is  not  to  have. 

But  in  quitting  the  hospitable  shores  of  the  West 
he  is  not  forgetful  of  the  kindness,  hospitality,  and 
Christian  sympathy  he  has  experienced  there.  Often, 
during  the  brief  remaining  period  of  his  life,  does  he 
cast  his  eye  back,  recalling  kind  names  and  faces,  and 
desiring  further  fellowship. 

His  family  were  in  Edinburgh  at  this  time,  and  it 
was  suggested  that  he  should  join  them  there,  and 
bring  them  home.  But  his  first  thoughts  are  of  Paris, 
and  his  work  there.  Thus  he  writes  on  the  14th  of 
December,  when  about  to  sail  for  Havre  : — 

"  I  am  very  well,  and  I  have  no  right  not  to  be 

tired.     Shall  the  servant  be  free  from  the  weariness 

which  the  Master  often  felt?     I  must  go  back  to 
270 


Voyage  Home.  2  7 1 

Havre.  Do  you  think  me  very  self-willed  because 
I  feel  it  my  duty,  after  serious  thought,  to  return  and 
help  Mr.  M'All,  who  is  doubtless  more  tired  than 
I  am.  I  am  enjoying  excellent  health,  and  do  not  see 
the  necessity  of  taking  even  a  fortnight  or  a  week, 
though  to  come  and  see  you  and  my  bonnie  bairns  is 
a  very  great  temptation.  Do  not  think  any  more 
about  it.  My  duty  and  my  place  is  in  Paris,  and 
there  I  must  go." 

On  board  the  Lahvador  he  thus  writes  home  : — 
"  Our  farewell  meeting  was  a  very  pleasant  one. 
Many  of  the  principal  men  of  New  York  were  there, 
and  were  as  cordial  as  they  could  be.  I  think  they 
have  got  interested  in  France,  and  in  our  story  of  her 
awakening  to  a  sense  of  spiritual  need,  and  of  her 
possible  resurrection.  I  feel  that  the  future  of  that 
country  is  more  clearly  than  ever  a  future  in  which 
I  must  spend  my  life.  My  hearing  so  much  from 
Eeveillaud  which  I  did  not  know  before  about  the 
work  in  the  provinces,  gives  me  a  deeper  interest  than 
ever  in  the  work  that  is  going  on.  May  I  return  to 
work  with  more  of  the  Spirit's  power  than  I  have 
ever  known  before. 

"  I  look  back  upon  the  twelve  weeks  w^hich  I  have 
spent  in  the  States  with  very  great  pleasure,  not  only 
because  of  the  great  kindness  and  hospitality  which 
I  received,  and  the  friends  I  met,  but  because  in  many 


272        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

ways,  and  looked  at  as  a  whole,  the  voyage  has  done 
me  good,  enlarged  my  sympathies,  and  quickened 
my  life  and  interest  in  all  that  goes  on  in  the  world. 
He  that  has  not  travelled  misses  a  great  deal. 

"  I  am  going  to  post  this  (d.v.)  in  Paris  to  let  you 
see  that  I  have  arrived  there.  It  seems  as  if  you 
were  nearer  to  me  now  that  only  the  Channel  divides 
us  from  one  another.  I  hope  I  shall  not  weary; 
I  fear  I  may ;  but  I  commit  you  and  our  darlings  to  the 
holy  keeping  of  a  loving  Father,  now  and  for  the 
New  Year  which  shall  have  begun  ere  you  get  this." 

A  few  days  later  he  writes  to  his  parents.  The 
letter  is  long  and  retrospective.  But  as  it  gives  a 
vivid  resume  of  his  American  work  and  glimpses  of 
American  men  and  scenes,  I  give  the  most  important 
parts.  It  will  be  seen  that  wherever  he  is,  France  is 
uppermost  in  his  thoughts ;  and  that  while  his  obser- 
vant eye  takes  hold  of  all  that  passes  before  it,  he 
connects  all  with  his  great  mission.  For  France  he 
would  gladly  live  and  die.  The  home-ties  of  nature, 
carrying  him  back  to  his  beloved  Scotland,  to  Yarrow, 
to  Edinburgh ;  above  all,  to  Lochee,  are  as  strong  as 


*  Thus,  for  instance,  he  wrote  once  to  his  father,  when  Paris  was 
just  decided  on  :  "I  love  and  honour  you  as  my  earthly  father  ;  and 
I  hope  I  may  add,  that  your  opinions  and  Christian  views  have  been 
deeply  imbedded  in  my  mind,  and  that  in  looking  back  to  my  past 
life,  while  it  is  God  that  has  kept  me  from  the  infidelity  and  ration- 


Voyage  Home.  273 

as  strong  as  ever ;  but  the  new- formed  links  which 
bind  him  to  that  France  to  which  he  has  gone  to  preach 
the  "  glad  tidings  "  of  God's  love  are,  if  not  stronger, 
at  least  more  operative;  drawing  him  irresistibly  back, 
not  to  Edinburgh  or  Dundee,  but  to  Paris,  and  Lyons, 
and  Bordeaux.  At  the  same  time  he  looks  at  every- 
thing in  connection  with  art,  or  literature,  or  anti- 
quarian research,  or  philology.  In  the  colleges  he 
takes  special  interest,  and  writes  of  the  professors 
with  great  warmth.* 

He  writes  concerning  France,  not  merely  as  one 
desirous  of  her  amelioration  and  true  enlightenment, 
but  as  one  who  is  alive  to  her  growing  peril.  He 
has  been  broucrht  face  to  face  with  the  ouvrier  and 

o 

communist,  and  he  is  alarmed  at  the  explosive 
materials  multiplying  all  around,  and  becoming 
intensified  in  destructive  energy.  He  has  been  now 
for  some  years  standing  on  volcanic  crust,  which  at 

alism  which  has  overtaken  many  of  my  friends,  to  you  I  owe  much 
of  my  appreciation  of  our  own  Scotch  theology  and  our  Free  Church 
principles  ;  and  a  gratitude  that  can  never  be  displaced  remains  with 
me  towards  you  for  all  you  have  done  for  me." 

*  Of  Yale  College  he  thus  writes  :  "  There  is  a  good  custom,  not 
only  in  the  theological  seminaries,  where  it  is  but  natural,  but  also 
in  the  colleges, — the  students  meet  together  every  morning  for  prayer, 
which  is  conducted  by  the  professors  in  rotation.  Even  at  Harvard 
(Unitarian)  this  custom  is  observed.  The  professors  debated  if  they 
should  make  it  optional.  But  Emerson  opposed  that  most  stoutly, 
and  it  is  still  observed."  Our  Scotch  colleges,  except  in  the  theolo- 
gical classes,  have  given  up  prayer.    Fifty  years  ago  it  was  different, 

T 


2  74        Memoir  of  Rev,  G.  T.  Dodds. 

any  moment  may  give  way  and  bury  millions.  He 
hears  the  threatening  roar  of  the  pent-up  earthquake 
beneath  his  feet  at  Belleville,  and  he  would  fain  avert 
the  catastrophe  which  he  feels  to  be  at  hand.  Revolu- 
tions, wars,  emeutes,  barricades,  massacres,  will  do 
nothing  for  poor  France.  She  has  had  enough  of 
these,  and  they  have  not  quieted  her.  Republics, 
monarchies,  empires,  dictatorships,  have  been  tried 
without  success.  Uneasiness  and  uncertainty  still 
remain.  For  the  moral  explosives  are  still  there,  and 
the  storage  of  destructive  power  is  accumulating 
every  day.  He  has  no  confidence  in  any  stability 
that  is  not  from  above.  Divine  appliances  are  the 
only  remedies.  The  truth  of  heaven  is  the  one 
deliverance ;  counteracting  the  social  dynamite,  and 
substituting  for  it  the  heavenly  elements  of  security 
and  peace.  The  book  of  God  is  her  one  hope. 
The  leaves  of  that  tree  are  for  the  healing  of  the 
nations. 

This  is  the  spirit  that  breathes  through  all  his 
letters.  This  is  the  spring  of  the  mighty  impulse 
that  makes  him  yearn  over  France  when  far  away, 
and  that  leads  him  to  throw  himself  with  renewed 
fervour  into  the  mission-work  on  his  return  home. 

That  work  continues  the  same  in  character  as 
hitherto;  only,  it  increases.  Blessing  is  resting  on 
the  workers ;  and,  though  few,  they  are  earnest  and 


Work  in  Paris.  275 

unwearied.  He  visits  the  stations,  and  is  greatly 
cheered.  He  has  got  an  additional  subject  for  illus- 
tration (America),  and  he  uses  it  frequently.*  His 
narratives  of  what  he  saw  and  heard  are  full  of 
interest  to  the  Parisians,  though  he  finds  incredulity 
as  to  some  things,  such  as  the  transportation 
of  whole  houses  from  one  place  to  another.  Could 
the  Louvre  be  thus  moved  ?  Hardly.  Could  the 
Madeleine  be  wheeled  to  the  Bois  ?  No.  What 
are  we  to  believe  ?  The  Chicago  fire  was  the  basis 
of  an  address,  and,  more  frequently,  the  Pilgrim 
Fathers.  One  day  an  Englishman  cheers  him  at  the 
close  of  a  meeting  by  expressing  his  sympathy  and 
interest;  another,  a  Frenchman,  sends  up  his  card, 
with  a  request  to  pray  for  the  dead  !  "  Give 
me,  Lord,"  he  adds,  "  such  encouragement  as  thou 
knowest  I  need.  At  the  Trocadero,  M.  Haney. 
preached    on    the    Mediateur.      He  did  admirably 

*  Here  is  a  statement  as  to  what  he  saw  at  Princeton  of  the 
relics  of  the  Swiss  lacustrine  dwellings,  with  his  inferences  thereon. 
I  do  not  know  that  he  used  it  at  any  of  his  meetings. — "  There  is 
(at  Princeton)  a  very  complete  collection  of  all  sorts  of  things  found 
in  the  lacustrine  dwellings  in  Switzerland, — bracelets,  hairpins  even. 
Their  bread  was  of  roughly-ground  wheat,  but  everything  showed 
a  high  civilisation.  Cloth  was  woven  by  them.  What  a  mess  modern 
savants  have  made  of  the  testimony  afforded  by  these  lake  dwell- 
ings !  They  say  that  all  nations  came  through  an  age  of  stone, 
bronze,  &c.  Why,  you  may  find  these  ages  co-existing  at  the  pre- 
sent day.  How  can  men  deduce  theories  from  so  irregular  a  series  of 
facts?" 


276        Memoir  of  Rev,  G.  T.  Dodds. 

and  was  liked."      There  are  "  signs  of  interest "  at 
Grenelle.     "  Lord,  bless  Thy  work  !  "  he  says. 

He  then  proceeded  to  Roubaix,  Lille,  and  Croix. 
After  this  his  diary  is  blank.  He  has  no  time  for  it. 
On  SOth  March  he  sets  off  for  Scotland,  to  bring 
home  his  family ;  and  on  Sabbath,  the  8rd  of  April 
(1881),  his  child  was  baptised  in  the  Grange  Church, 
which  event  he  thus  enters  :— "  Our  daughter  bap- 
tised Isabelle  Marie.  The  Lord  our  covenant  God 
bless  her  and  keep  her.  I  preached  in  the  afternoon : 
'  My  words  shall  not  pass  away.'  " 

To  Paris  he  returned  without  delay,  and  during 
this  summer  worked  at  the  different  stations  with 
his  usual  energy.  For  some  little  time  past  he  had 
been  troubled  with  a  rumour  which  had  gone  abroad 
as  to  the  Mission,  that  the  true  Gospel  was  not 
preached  at  the  Mission  stations.  Perhaps  some  one 
out  of  ill-will  had  raised  the  report,  or  perhaps  some 
of  those  who  think  that  no  one  can  preach  the  Gospel 
but  themselves  had  suggested  it ;  or  it  might  be  that 
some  one  had  heard  a  very  poor  and  imperfect  address 
at  one  of  the  meetings,  and  had  gone  away  with  the 
impression  that  this  was  a  specimen  of  mission-doc- 
trine and  mission-preaching.  Now,  I  have  no  doubt 
that  some  of  the  addresses  are  poor  enough,  and,  it 
may  be,  mixed  with  error.  But  is  this  wonderful  at 
the  commencement  of  such  a  strange  and  difficult 


Work  in  Paris.  277 


work  as  the  Paris  Mission  ?  And  ought  not  Christian 
charity  to  have  made  some  excuse  for  imperfection 
in  such  a  case  ?  Besides,  does  not  the  same  thing 
occur  frequently  both  in  Scotland  and  England? 
I  have  heard  more  unsound  teaching  from  some 
Scottish  pulpits  than  I  ever  heard  at  any  of  those 
stations.  But  I  should  not  have  thought  of 
condemning  the  Church  that  was  supposed  to 
be  responsible,  for  these  unsound  utterances. 
I  write  advisedly  when  I  say  that  more  Scriptural 
teaching  I  never  heard  than  from  some  of  these 
Mission  pulpits, — pulpits  which  men  may  smile  at, 
because  constituted  of  a  few  boards  clumsily  nailed 
together,  and  coarsely  covered  with  red  baize,  but 
from  which  goes  forth,  in  language  that  no  one  can 
mistake,  the  glad  tidings  to  the  sons  of  men  of  God's 
free  love  and  free  pardon.  Rumours  of  this  kind,  no 
doubt,  recoil  upon  their  inventors,  but  they  may 
damage  a  noble  cause.  It  was  this  fear  that  troubled 
both  Mr.  M'All  and  Mr.  Dodds. 

For  larger  accounts  of  the  Mission  during  the 
spring  and  summer  of  this  year,  I  must  refer  to  the 
Annual  Report,  and  also  the  Quarterly  Record, 
which  Mr.  Dodds  so  well  conducted.  I  mean  to  be 
as  brief  as  possible  regarding  this,  and  to  present 
only  materials  which  have  not  appeared  before. 

The  following  letters  are  full  of  interest,  and  show 


278        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 

that  not  only  in  Paris,  but  outside  its  walls  and  far 
beyond  them,  a  new  and  unaccountable  desire  to 
listen  to  the  Gospel  has  pervaded  the  French  people. 
No  opposition  from  bishop,  priest,  or  prefet,  though 
they  might  in  secret  malign  or  grin,  and  propose  the 
gallows  or  the  stake!  All  is  quiet.  The  "nest 
of  hornets"  may  be  there,  but  no  hornet  stirs. 
Pascal's  jest,  which  he  poked  at  the  hooded  crowns  of 
Paris  in  his  day  is  now  out  of  date — ''  JJn  bout  de 
capuchon  arme  25,000  moines, — The  peak  of  a  cowl 
sets  up  in  arms  25,000  monks."  These  peaks  or  tips 
of  monkery,  like  the  horns  of  snails,  have  been  drawn 
in.  Only  we  must  remember  they  are  still  there. 
But  I  proceed  with  the  extracts.  The  first  two  or 
three  are  to  his  parents. 

"  AuTEUiL,  Paris,  2rd  February,  1881. 
"  I  went  out  to  Versailles  on  Saturday  to  see  M.  Keveillaud 
and  lunch  with  him,  according  to  an  old  promise.  We  walked 
through  the  woods  at  Versailles  and  through  the  Soldiers' 
Camp  at  Satory,  getting  a  magnificent  view  of  the  whole  of 
Versailles  and  of  its  palace.  What  would  Louis  XIV.  say  if 
he  woke  up  and  found  that  the  medal  he  struck,  *  Haeresis 
extincta,'  is  no  longer  true,  and  that  the  Protestants  are  wor- 
shipping under  the  very  roof  of  the  room  where  he  signed  the 
Revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes,  and  that  the  heretics  are 
about  to  begin  a  meeting  in  the  town.  We  propose  adding  a 
station  there.  M.  Reveillaud  and  others  are  to  help  in  carry- 
ing it  on.  I  came  back  from  Versailles  just  in  time  to  go  to 
Pantin,  outside  the  fortifications,  near  Belleville,  to  a  new  meet- 


Work  in  Diffei^ent  Towns.  279 

ing  which  we  have  begun  there.  About  four  years  ago  we  tried 
one,  but  the  noise  and  rowdyism  of  the  inhabitants  caused  us 
to  retire  inside  the  walls.  Now,  the  meeting  is  not  only 
crowded  but  quiet.  The  men  at  the  head  of  the  municipal 
offices  in  Paris  must  have  good  memories.  When  we  applied 
for  authorisation  the  '  chef '  of  the  police  said,  '  Oh,  that 's 
where  you  tried  to  begin  several  years  ago  ;  I  remember  quite 
well,  and  you  had  a  great  deal  of  noise  ;  the  noise  is  hzre. 
still  !'  pointing  to  his  head.  I  spoke  to  the  people  about 
America,  though  there  and  elsewhere,  when  I  tell  them  of  the 
marvels  of  elevated  railways,  and  moving  houses  at  Chicago, 
and  of  lifting  up  their  houses  and  hotels  from  the  groimd  one 
storey,  &c.  &c.,  the  graver  sort  of  the  attendants  look  at  me 
very  suspiciously,  as  much  as  to  say  that  my  stay  in  America 
has  spoilt  my  reputation  for  truthfulness.  I  went  yesterday  to 
the  school  at  the  Faubourg  St.  Antoine  ;  there  were  250  child- 
ren, and  110  out  of  that  number  repeated  the  verse  which  had 
been  given  out  the  week  before,— that  is  110  had  Testaments 
and  brought  them  with  them.  That  is  most  encouraging  in 
such  a  quarter.  The  Paris  gamin  is  on  the  whole  a  very 
amenable  piece  of  humanity.  I  had 's  letters  this  morn- 
ing, which  I  was  very  glad  to  get,  though  I  don't  always  wel- 
come letters.  Just  now  they  come  in  at  every  post,  and  in 
quantities.     I  don't  know  where  to  begin." 

"  RoUBAlx,  NoRD,  ^ili  Marchf  1881. 

"  At  some  date  in  the  future,  Lille,  Croix,  Koubaix,  Tur- 
coing,  shall  have  become  one  great  city.  Lille  at  present  is 
the  principal,  and  Eoubaix  has  grown  up  from  having  6000 
people  to  be  a  town  of  80,000.  It  reminds  me  of  an  English 
town  ;  the  people  are  more  busy  and  less  inclined  to  loiter 
about,  than  at  Lyons  and  Bordeaux  ;  indeed,  we  are  here  in  the 
north,  and  most  things  are  changed — accent,  character,  and 
life.      The  streets,  especially  the  j)art  of  the  town  where  are 


28o        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 

those  of  the  working- classes,  are  like  parts  of  an  English 
manufacturing  town.  On  Sunday  the  people  are  quiet  and 
go  to  church,  at  least  in  greater  numbers  than  they  do  in 
Paris.  One  of  the  waiters,  who  comes  from  Valenciennes, 
which  is  not  far  from  this,  complained  to  me  of  the  dulness 
and  want  of  gaietyin  Koubaix  on  Sunday.  '  Why  was  he  here 
then  ] '    *  Oh  !  one  must  work  and  gain  one's  livelihood !' 

"  We  have  opened  two  rooms,  and  there  was  a  great  crowd 
on  Sunday  evening  here,  a  large  number  of  the  audience  being 
Catholics.  There  was  no  noise,  no  disapproval  of  what  we 
said.  I  took  for  my  text  an  American  saying  :  "At  Boston 
they  ask,  What  do  you  Icnovo  ?  at  New  York,  What  you  have  ? 
at  Philadelphia,  What  you  are  ?"  It  was  novel  and  striking, 
and  their  attention  was  easily  kept  while  I  showed  them 
knowledge  was  vain,  that  Solomon  had  said  *  vanity'  five  times 
in  one  verse,  and  that  their  own  Moli^re  was  a  sad  man 
amidst  all  the  applause  and  success  he  met  with,  that  riches 
were  of  no  use  if  they  wanted  peace  in  their  heart.  I  told 
them  the  story  of  Theodore  Hook,  and  then  spoke  to  them 
of  the  one  thing  that  always  remained — a  character.  What 
are  you  ]  Christ  was  persecuted,  and  hated,  and  crucified, 
but  his  character  remained  unchanged.  If  they  had  a  good 
character  that  was  better  than  riches  or  science,  but  then  they 
were  weak  and  sinful,  and  fell  into  temptation  ;  they  knew 
that,  and  nobody  could  doubt  it.  How  were  they  to  gain  a 
character  like  Christ's  1  Well,  in  plain  words,  they  had 
immortal  souls,  and  they  needed  a  Saviour,  and  Christ  was 
that  Saviour — far  better  fitted  than  any  one  else  to  tell  them 
what  their  souls  needed.  And  thus  I  got  them  to  the  Gospel. 
Probably  not  one  of  the  Roman  Catholics  there  had  ever  seen 
a  Bible  ;  a  great  many  had  never  heard  of  such  a  book,  but 
they  have  a  vague  idea  of  Jesus  Christ ;  and  so  one  has  to 
take  common  ground  and  lead  them  on  bit  by  bit.  It's  the 
true  way  to  evangelise  the  French  ;  they  must  not  be  preached 


Work  in  Different  Towns.  281 

to,  and  they  must  be  interested.  They  won't  enter  the  door 
of  a  church  ;  but  our  halls,  with  their  cheerful  aspect,  the 
texts  on  the  walls,  the  friendly  welcome,  the  absence  of  any 
mystery — that  succeeds." 

"  Rue  Pierre  Guerin,  U  24  Mars^  1881. 
"  I  returned  from  Roubaix  Friday  last  week,  leaving  by  the 
6.13  train  in  the  morning.  Our  work  there  has  been  very 
encouraging.  I  never  saw  anywhere  such  crowds  of  respect- 
ful, eager  working-men,  assenting  by  their  presence  and  con- 
duct to  the  truths  which  were  being  preached.  The  Protestants 
of  the  town  are  zealous  and  willing  to  learn  ;  it  often  touches 
me,  the  way  they  receive  us  foreigners — no  jealousy  or  national 
conceit  on  their  part.  They  made  me  give  a  'Conference'  on 
America  in  the  church ;  there  must  have  been  600  people 
present.  I  spoke  without  notes  for  about  an  hour,  and  had 
no  difficulty  in  keeping  their  attention.  On  walking  home 
with  M.  Rogier,  we  overheard  some  workmen  saying  to  each 
other  about  a  house  which  was  being  rebuilt  in  one  of  the 
streets :  *  If  that  had  been  in  America  they  would  have  trans- 
ported it  bodily.'  I  had  told  them  about  the  way  in  which 
they  remove  houses  from  place  to  place  in  Chicago.  On  Sunday 
I  preached  in  the  '  Temple'  of  Roubaix,  and  then  went  to  Croix 
to  address  the  Sunday  school  of  the  Episcopal  church.  There  is 
quite  an  English  colony  there  of  decent,  quiet  English  people. 
...  I  went  one  day  with  a  Swiss  gentleman  to  see  Lille  ;  it 
is  a  very  strongly  fortified  town,  more  so  I  think  than  even 
Strasbourg.  It  was  taken  by  and  belonged  to  the  Spaniards, 
who  have  left  the  traces  of  their  occupation  in  the  buildings 
of  the  old  town.  The  Bourse  is  a  wonderful  building  of  its 
kind,  surmounted  by  a  not  very  beautiful  campanile  in  brick, 
its  architecture  being  partly  Spanish,  mixed  with  Moorish  and 
Norman  architecture.  The  Spanish  is  peculiar,  bizarre  and 
almost  grotesque  figures  ending  in  spirals  or  tubes  like  mer- 


282        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


maids — very  Spanish  faces ;  the  cornucopias  all  reversed 
instead  of  being  as  usual,  mouth  upwards  ;  the  doors  beauti- 
ful. The  old  part  of  the  city  must  be  very  much  like  the 
southern  cities  of  Europe,  at  least  in  Spain.  There  is  also  a 
very  valuable  collection  of  paintings — Van  Dyck  and  Eubens 
and  De  la  Croix ;  the  latter's  *  Medea  about  to  Kill  her 
Children'  is  a  very  remarkable  painting.  The  same  painter 
painted  *  Moses  Found  by  Pharaoh's  Daughter.'  But  the  most 
remarkable  of  all  is  '  The  Descent  from  the  Cross,'  by  Eubens. 
They  are  as  fresh  in  colour  as  if  they  had  been  painted  a  few- 
months  ago  ;  but  there  is  no  glaring  colour." 


In  June  of  this  year  he  wrote  a  long  letter  to  me 
regarding  mission  arrangements,  new  workers,  evan- 
gelists, and  various  contemplated  changes.  "Our 
children's  fete,  on  Monday,  6th  (June),  was  a  great 
success  ;  more  than  500 ;  walls  hung  with  specimens 
of  different  languages,  and  drawings  of  heathen 
deities.  I  send  you  one  of  them,  Pilou-Pilou  (the 
great  idol  of  New  Caledonia),  which  we  gave  away 
to  the  children."  In  [this  letter,  as  in  others,  he 
speaks  with  great  affection  of  Mr.  Paterson,  late 
minister  of  the  Scotch  congregation,  and  no  less 
warmly  of  Mr.  Campbell,  who  succeeded  him.  "  We 
have  opened  a  meeting  in  Rue  Lauriston,  near  the 
Arc  de  Triomphe.  It  is  Mr.  Campbell  of  the  Scotch 
church  and  his  congregation  who  support  it.  It  is 
very  good  of  him,  and  a  very  evident  token  of  his 
interest  in  the  work.    I  like  him  much.    They  had  a 


Sojourn  at  Clermont-Ferrand,        283 

great  crowd  at  Lauriston  last  night.  "We  had  a  good 
meeting  at  Versailles  last  Tuesday.  M.  Reveillaud 
spoke  with  great  power.  It  was  evidently  a  remin- 
iscence of  his  own  conversion.  He  spoke  on  the 
confusion  of  tongues  of  Bahel,  the  restoration  of  the 
gift  at  Pentecost,  and  then  on  the  Holy  Spirit. 
I  never  knew  of  such  an  impression — the  stillness 
and  deep  solemn  attention  on  the  part  of  the  people 
— as  on  that  night  during  his  speech.  The  Spirit 
was  evidently  with  him.  The  language  was  so 
earnest  and  personal,  yet  subdued,  coming  from  a 
heart  which  was  full  of  joy  and  personal  experience 
of  the  blessedness  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  I  am  likely 
going  with  him  in  autumn  for  ten  days  to  see  the 
French  Vaudois  district.     We  are  sure  to  enjoy  it." 

In  July  (30th)  he  writes  to  me :  "I  wish  you 
could  have  come  to  Clermont-Ferrand  with  us.  It 
is  at  the  foot  of  the  Puy  de  Dome.  I  am  rather 
weary  of  this  noisy  city  and  its  heat,  besides  having 
the  whole  burden  of  the  work  on  my  hands.  This 
is  a  time  of  dreadful  dearth  among  the  speakers. 
Nevertheless  our  meetings  are  well  attended.  We 
opened  our  thirtieth  station  in  Paris  last  Thursday 
at  Montreuil-sous-Bois,  just  outside  the  fortifications. 
How  the  people  crowded  in — of  the  thorough  ouvrier 
class.  It  seems  the  Maire  was  there,  and  all 
his  '  counseillers  municipaux,'  and  that  they  highly 


284        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 

approved  of  it  all M.  Hirsch  is  a  splendid  man,  only 

twenty-seven  years  of  age,  son  of  a  Jewish  rabbi  in 
Strasbourg,  and  a  very  clear-headed  theologian.    You 
would  have  been  glad  to  hear  him  at  *  Rivoli'  Sun- 
day meeting  showing  the  people  how  the  death  of 
Christ  was  not  only  a  moral  but  a  legal  satisfaction. 
We    have    had    a    most    interesting    incident    at 
Versailles.       A    young    man    of    the    Agricultural 
College  there  has  been  attending  our  meeting,  and 
showing  more  than  a  mere  intellectual  interest  in 
what  is  said.      He  has  brought  another  pupil  with 
him  from  the  same  college,  who  has  brought  a  third. 
You  will  not  forget  to  pray  for  them,  that  they  may 
be  led  to  decide  out  and  out  for  Christ.   I  am  exceed- 
ingly delighted  with  M.  R^veillaud's  speaking ;    so 
direct  and   powerful  and   full  of   entreaty,  also   so 
thoroughly   Biblical  and   orthodox.      Last   Tuesday 
evening  he  spoke  on  'the  judgment,'  Christ  dividing 
the  sheep  from  the  goats.     He  was  very  clear  on  the 
question  of  eternal  punishment,  and  most  solemnis- 
ing,    I  have  heard  of  several  most  interesting  inci- 
dents.    Our  station  at  Gare  d'lvry  (I  go  there  every 
Thursday)  is  in  a  very  interesting  condition.     It  is  a 
most  degraded  quarter ;   yet  the  people  sit,  and  do 
not  go  out  and  in,  but  attend,  and  with  the  most 
serious  interest." 

In  another  letter  he  speaks  of  his  large  meetings 


Sojourn  at  Clerni07it-Ferrand.        285 

at  Ivry — "  the  roughest  characters" — and  adds  :  "  I  do 
not  know  any  meeting  where  such  a  serious  aspect  pre- 
vails." In  several  of  our  conversations  in  May,  1882, 
he  spoke  of  the  deep  seriousness  pervading  this 
meeting.     He  was  very  hopeful  about  it. 

Writing  to  me  of  an  English  visitor,  he  says: — 
"  I  think  he  is  a  man  under  the  great  delusion  that 
the  evangelical  faith  and  preaching  can  be  preserved 
with  modem  laxity  of  thought  and  freeness  of  criti- 
cism. ...  I  wish  they  saw  the  curse  that  this  form 
of  semi-rationalism  and  a  patched-up  agreement 
between  infidel  criticism  and  the  Gospel  has  been  in 
France.  A  good  man  delivered  himself  of  this  dogma 
the  other  night  at  Rivoli : — '  The  truth  which  has 
most  often  re-echoed  in  this  hall  is  that  God  is  the 
Father  of  us  all,  and  that  we  are  all  His  children.' 
Some  of  us  do  what  we  can  to  neutralise  these  things, 
which  no  Frenchman  needs  to  he  told.  Some  are 
moderate,  but  have  no  firm  grasp  of  saving  truth. 
Yet  it  often  happens  that  these  very  men  learn  in  our 
meetings.  I  knew  of  one,  very  cold  and  dry,  who  has 
received  a  personal  blessing,  and  whom  I  have  heard 
since  preaching  the  Gospel  with  a  clearness  and  force 
leaving  nothing  to  be  desired.  ...  I  think  I  see  in 
many  ways  hoiu  to  preach.' " 

He  had  received  a  copy  of  the  "  Revised  Version," 
and  immediately  began  to  look  into  it  as  a  Greek 


286        Memoir  of  Rev.  G,  T.  Dodds. 


scholar.  The  pressure  of  work  hindered  a  more 
minute  examination  at  the  time.  He  thus  writes  to 
his  parents : — 

"  AUTEUIL^  ^ih  Juhj,  1881. 
"  I  have  got  the  Revised  Version,  but  have  been  too  much 
taken  up  with  my  work  and  with  our  own  French  New  Version 
to  examine  very  carefully  the  English.  Have  you  noticed  how 
much  of  the  doxology,  which  has  been,  I  think,  too  hastily 
omitted,  is  in  1  Chron.  xxix.  10  and  11  ?  'Thine,  O  Lord,  is 
the  power  and  the  glory  .  .  .  Thine  is  the  kingdom.'  It  looks 
like  a  liturgical  ending  which  our  Lord  may  have  sanctioned. 
I  am  delighted,  however,  with  the  rendering  of  hitherto 
untranslated  particles  in  Paul's  Epistles,  prepositions,  such  as 
in  Gal.  ii.  21,  gave  Himself  up,  Greek,  TrapaStSw^i ;  Paul  was 
making  a  very  personal  application  of  Christ's  sacrifice  ;  it  is 
stronger  than  Tit.  ii.  14,  who  gave  Himself  for  us,  diSco/jLi.  But 
our  language,  full  as  it  is,  cannot  come  up  to  the  expressive 
Greek  of  the  Apostle  ;  ^irtyvucLs  is  fuller,  more  advanced  know- 
ledge than  yvdcns.  I  have  been  struck  with  St.  Paul's  use  of 
the  word  in  his  Epistles  from  Rom.  i.  28  onwards.  My  old 
friend  Ulphilas,  though  his  tongue  was  almost  a  barbarous  one, 
succeeded  in  rendering  the  word,  and  differing  it  from  yvucis 
(kunth)  and  ufkunthi).  It  is  a  great  improvement  to  have 
but  one  word  in  Rom.  vii.  where  we  had  formerly  three — '  lust, 
covet,  concupiscence,'  which  obscured  the  sense,  and  the  sharp- 
ness of  the  apostle's  experience.  I  don't  think  that  the  Per- 
fectionists will  be  the  better  for  this  revised  chapter,— it  looks 
more  and  more  like  a  chapter  in  the  apostle's  life  after  his 
conversion,  and  not  when  he  was  a  Jew  or  had  backslidden. 
We  shall  have  to  give  up  1  Tim.  iii.  16  (as  well  as  1  John  v.  7)  ; 
but  I  never  felt  that  that  was  to  be  greatly  contended  for  as 
*fl"e'  points  to  p re-existence  already.  But  they  have  left  us 
*  THE  Church  of  God  which  He  hath  purchased  with  His  own 


Sojottrn  at  Clermont-Ferrand.         287 

blood.'  Vance  Smith,  the  Unitarian  reviser,  is  not  pleased 
with  the  translation, — a  good  sign.  Do  you  notice  '  0 
Jerusalem,  which  kiUethj  Matt,  xxiii.  37  ;  it  is  a  correct  literal 
GreeJc  rendering,  but  I  think  we  should  have  been  better 
without  it." 

A  little  further  on  he  writes  again  to  his  parents : — 

"  Gth  August,  1881. 
"We  have  opened  our  thirtieth  station  in  Paris  near  the 
gate  of  Montreuil,  at  Montreuil-sous-Bois,  just  outside  the  forti- 
fications and  near  Vincennes.  There  was  a  great  crowd  of 
regular  ouvrier  people — it  is  a  densely  peopled  quarter — all 
eyes  and  ears  to  see  what  we  were  going  to  do.  They  listened 
very  quietly,  some  of  them  nodding  their  heads  to  me  and  to 
their  neighbours  to  assent  to  what  was  said.  The  '  maire '  and 
his  '  counseillers  municipaux '  were  there,  not  of  a  very  high 
social  standing  ;  it  seems  they  expressed  themseh^es  as  highly 
gratified.  I  am  not  astonished  at  this  ;  it  is  only  one  sign  more 
that  France  is  ready  everywhere,  at  least,  to  listen  to  the 
Gospel,  and,  perhaps,  even  more, — determined  to  hear  it.  I  told 
the  people  that  we  had  come  to  speak  to  them,  not  for  the 
reason  the  little  girl  gave  to  her  mother  when  she  checked  her 
for  talking  too  much, '  Oh,  laisse-moi  parler,  maman  ;  9a  fait  du 
bien  a  la  langue.'  I  said  we  were  come  to  drive  out  wicked- 
ness,— telling  them  the  story  of  the  American  who  lately  gained 
£200  for  a  prize  essay  on  '  The  easiest  Method  of  exterminating 
Mice ' — all  he  said  was  '  Increase  the  number  of  cats.'     Miss 

R said  that  was  a  new  way  of  preaching  Dr.  Chalmers' 

*  Expulsive  power  of  a  new  afl'ection.'  I  told  them  the  story 
also  of  the  infidel  who  had  said  at  an  evangelistic  meeting  that 
gas  had  done  more  good  for  the  world  than  Christianity.  '  Oh, 
then,'  replied  the  preacher,  '  when  you  are  going  to  die  send 
for  the  gasman  ! '  This  will  give  you  an  idea  of  our  unconven- 
tional sort  of  talk.     The  heat  has  again  been  great,  but  how 


288        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


well  the  people  come  out.  At  Eivoli  the  other  night  I  had 
250,  and  at  Gare  d'lvry,  110.  You  don't  keep  up  meetings  so 
well  as  that  at  home  !  I  have  Carlyle's  Keminiscences  ;  what 
a  cantankerous,  conceited,  self-opinionative  being  that  book 
has  shown  him  to  be.  His  criticism  of  Dr.  Chalmers  is  very- 
defective  ;  he  could  not  appreciate  the  burning  Christian 
earnestness  of  the  man,  much  as  he  talked  himself  about 
earnestness,  which  broad-churchmen  have  changed  into  that 
high,  undefined,  grandiloquent  phrase,  'the  enthusiasm  of 
humanity.' " 

In  a  letter  to  myself,  dated  7th  July,  1881,  he  thus 
writes :  "  I  had  a  '  deporte  de  la  Commune,'  a  trans- 
ported Communist,  not '  deporte  de  la  foi,'  on  Sunday 
evening  at  Crenelle.  He  stayed  behind  to  speak  to 
me — much  touched  and  very  eager  to  learn.  He 
had  been  allowed  back  to  Paris  a  year  ago  with  the 
others.  I  had  also  a  long  conversation  with  a  young 
man,  Hatoig,  a  Basque  from  Orthez,  near  Bordeaux, 
whom  I  have  known  for  some  time.  He  has  been 
ill,  and  has  gone  to  his  native  place  to  get  well ;  but 
I  think  he  has  found  Christ.  I  have  been  much 
interested  in  him.  He  said  he  had  believed  onachin- 
alement  (mechanically)  in  Christ,  but  since  his  illness 
he  had  felt  he  needed  a  friend  to  protect  him,  and 
he  could  say  that  Christ  was  his  Saviour."  Then, 
when  briefly  noting  this  in  his  diary,  he  adds,  "  Deo 
gratias." 

On  the  6th  of  September  he  went  with  his  whole 


Sojourn  at  Clermont-Ferrand.        289 

family  to  Clermont-Ferrand  for  a  month's  sojourn. 
But  here  was  a  new  field ;  and  while  resting  he  must 
be  working.*  That  town  is  the  birth-place  of  Blaise 
Pascal,  whose  house  is  still  shown.  It  is  the  Eoman 
Nemetumi  or  Augustonemetum,  also  named  Clarus 
Mons,  celebrated  by  Pascal's  sister  Jaqueline  in  one 
of  her  poems,  as  a  little  hill  singularly  favoured  by 
the  sun.  Its  population  is  about  30,000.  It  is  a 
"  very  clerical  town,"  writes  Mr.  Dodds,  and  proces- 
sions of  the  host  still  go  on.  The  maire  is  or  was  a 
"  clerical,"  and  when  a  petition  was  sent  to  him  to 
prohibit  the  procession,  answered  that  he  would 
never  "  prevent  le  hon  Dieu  from  going  out  on  the 
streets  unless  there  was  a  majority  against  it."*!* 

The  town  seemed  sealed  against  the  mission. 
Every  door  was  shut.  Clericalism  and  the  terror  of 
the  priest  prevailed.  So,  after  three  days,  during 
which  he  had  searched  in  vain  for  a  hall,  Mr.  Dodds 
went  for  a  tour  in  the  Hautes  Alpes,  leaving  Mrs. 

*  On  the  13th  of  August  he  wrote  to  me  :  "  We  have  a  request  to 
open  a  branch-mission  at  Clermont-Ferrand,  Puy  de  Dome.  I  may 
probably  go  there  in  September  ;  holding  some  meetings  and  making 
it  my  holiday  at  the  same  time.  It  seems  living  is  cheap,  and  the 
country  lovely.    Will  you  not  all  come  and  take  your  holiday  there  ?  " 

t  Writing  from  Clermont  (on  the  very  day  of  his  arrival),  Mr. 
Dodds  says  :  "  I  am  deep  in  Huguenot  literature.  What  a  martyr- 
roll  this  country  possesses.  Scotland  has  nothing  like  it.  You 
should  get  Dr.  Baird's  '  History  of  the  Huguenots.'  He  told  me 
that  it  took  him  fourteen  years'  continuous  labour.  It  is  a  wonder- 
fully full  and  accurate  book.     He  was  our  treasurer  in  America." 

U 


290        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

Dodds  and  her  sister  to  prosecute  the  search. 
They  had  been  told  it  would  be  in  vain  ;  but 
they  were  not  to  be  turned  from  their  purpose. 
This  whole  region,  now  given  over  to  Eome,  was 
once  the  seat  of  purest  Protestantism,  and  had  been 
watered  with  Huguenot  blood,  and  the  Puy  de  Dome, 
the  guardian  mountain  of  the  city,  had  looked  down 
on  martyrdoms  many  and  terrible.  And  shall  no 
effort  be  made  to  relight  the  extinguished  lamp  ? 
The  attempt  must  be  made  in  good  earnest,  and 
made  in  faith.  The  Revocation  of  the  Edict  of 
Nantes  scattered  the  followers  of  Christ  in  1685,  and 
covered  this  region  with  darkness.  Let  us  revoke 
the  revocation  and  bring  back  the  light ! 

"  But  how  were  we  even  to  find  a  place  of  meeting  ?  From 
shop  to  shop  we  wandered,  wherever  a  ticket  a  louer  was  to  be 
seen,  beginning  ambitiously  with  the  thoroughfares  and  large 
conspicuous  fronts,  ending  with  obscure  alleys  and  low-roofed 
places  where  barely  fifty  people  could  turn  about.  Even  that, 
we  thought,  would  be  better  than  nothing.  But  the  shops  that 
were  available  for  others  were  not  available  for  us.  All  sorts 
of  excuses  were  given,  generally  that  the  meetings  would 
cause  noise,  and  disturb  respectable  tenants.  Sometimes  our 
hopes  were  raised  by  the  owners  taking  a  day  to  reflect,  only 
to  be  dashed  to  the  ground  again  :  '  They  had  consulted  their 
neighbours,  and  found  that  it  would  produce  a  bad  impression.' 
It  struck  us  again  and  again  that  the  loersonal  conscience  was 
less  Catholic  than  the  collective.  If  it  had  not  been  for  '  the 
neighbours,'  and  the  fear  of  injuring  their  business,  many 
would  have  dealt  easily  with  their  private  scruples.     We  made 


Sojourn  at  Clemnont-Ferrand,        291 

some  friends,  nevertheless,  in  going  about,  and  this  served  as  a 
pretty  good  advertisement  of  the  future  meetings.  One  family 
especially,  not  themselves  permitted  to  sub-let  their  shop  to 
us,  aided  us  in  every  way  to  search  for  another.  The  woman 
had  received  tracts  in  one  of  the  exhibitions  (not  the  last)  in 
Paris,  while  a  girl  staying  in  their  house  had  attended  reunions 
at  Les  Ternes,  and  had  told  the  rest  what  a  good  thing  it 
would  be.  But  still  in  vain.  One  seemed  to  grow  dizzy  with 
tramping  those  streets,  narrow  as  Devonshire  lanes,  and 
always  coming  back  to  the  same  point.  Once  we  saw  thirty  in 
one  day.  One  man  wished  to  let  us  his  sunk  storey,  in  order, 
he  said,  to  raise  his  fellow-townsmen,  who  were  a  century 
behind  the  age.  He  himself  was  a  hot  republican,  and  there 
were  2000  besides  himself  of  'advanced  men'  in  Clermont. 
Religion  he  had  none ;  his  ideal  was  to  break  the  power  of 
superstition,  but  he  knew  of  nothing  to  put  in  its  place.  This 
was  a  discovery  to  us.  Two  thousand  !  In  this  stronghold  of 
Popery  !  Two  thousand  who  have  broken  from  their  old 
moorings,  and  are  drifting  out  on  the  ocean  of  unbelief.  It  is 
high  time  then  that  something  were  done.  For  these  men,  and 
not  the  true  Catholics,  are  often  the  first  to  come  to  hear  the 
Gospel.  They  come  from  curiosity  ;  they  come  because  they 
vaguely  connect  the  Gospel  with  liberty  ;  they  come  because 
they  are  not  yet  Atheists,  though  they  are  on  the  very  verge  of 
becoming  so.  It  is  curious,  however,  that  this  very  man  in 
a  day  or  two  refused  to  let  us  have  his  room,  on  account  of  his 
mother's  'prejudices. 

"  By  this  time  we  had  been  told,  by  our  friends  the  Protestant 
pastors,  of  the  hall  which  we  finally  secured.  It  was  doubly 
retired,  being  in  a  dull  street,  and  entered  by  a  passage  and 
court.  Our  Parisian  ideas  made  us  doubt  of  success  in  such  a 
place.  Yet  it  was  the  only  one  that  offered,  and  it  was  a  large, 
good  room  ;  as  it  was  it  would  contain  120  persons  ;  by  taking 
down  a  partition  it   could  be  made  to   contain  180.      Still 


292        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


dubious    of   attracting  numbers,   and  pressed  for  time,   we 
decided,  in  an  evil  liour,  to  have,  the  partition. 

"  By  tliis  time  we  had  spent  a  month  in  Clermont,  and  nine 
days  only  remained  to  us.  Our  hasty  proceedings  must  have 
somewhat  startled  the  kind  old  woman  who  owned  the  room. 
She  had  to  move  her  things ;  she  wished  to  consult  her  son- 
in-law.  At  last,  however,  all  difficulties  yielded,  and  on 
Thursday,  the  6th  of  October,  we  could  begin  to  arrange  for  a 
meeting  on  the  11th.  White- washing  had  to  be  done,  chairs 
and  benches,  platform  and  reading-desk,  procured,  lamps  to  be 
bou"-ht  and  hung,  a  harmonium  borrowed,  handbills  and  adver- 
tisements in  local  papers  to  be  thought  of.  It  was  done,  and 
the  place  looked  bright  and  clean,  by  Tuesday  afternoon, 
when  we  went  to  hang  a  few  banner-texts,  the  leavings  of  our 
Paris  halls.  Will  no  friend  send  some  good  texts  for 
Clermont  ]  We  had  arranged  for  three  successive  meetings 
to  take  place,  on  Tuesday,  Wednesday,  Thursday,  11th,  12th 
13th,  so  as  to  give  the  thing  a  fair  launch.  After  that,  Mr. 
Galland  promised  to  come  in  each  Wednesday  to  carry  on  the 
work,  in  which  the  pastors  also  are  to  help. 

"After  prayer  together,  we  and  Mr.  Galland  and  Mr.  Peladan 
went  down  that  Tuesday  evening  to  the  hall,  still  wondering 
if  peo]3le  would  dare  to  come.  Instead  of  that,  the  room  was 
packed.  Some  friends  who  came  a  few  minutes  after  eight 
could  not  get  in,  and  the  crowd  in  the  court  was  every  moment 
increasing.  Except  for  the  Protestants,  the  crowd  was  mostly 
of  men — many  young  ouvriers  who  had  arrived  '  full  galop ' 
from  their  work,  were  only  half-pleased  to  find  the  room 
already  full.  Many  did  not  know  the  object  of  the  meeting. 
'  It  is  the  reunion  of  the  Eepublic,'  said  one.  '  Whsit  have 
they  got  to  say  to  us  ? '  said  another.  '  If  you  would  only  be 
quiet,  one  might  hear  something.'  Some,  perched  on  a  ladder 
behind  the  door,  heard  the  hymns  at  least  well.  '  Wait  a 
little,'  many  said,  '  those  inside  will  soon  tire  of  it,  and  leave 


Sojourn  at  Clermont-Ferrand.        293 

their  seats  for  us.'  But  they  waited  in  vain,  for  no  one 
moved  from  within  the  hall.  There  it  was  all  silence  and 
attention.  The  women  among  the  audience  were  mostly 
recognised  as  Protestant  friends  ;  the  rest  were  men.  But 
with  what  strained  curiosity  they  listened,  and  how  they 
seemed  to  enjoy  the  hymns,  beginning  with  'Par  ce  Chemin 
Solitaire.'  Our  choir,  certainly,  was  not  famous,  although  we 
had  attempted  some  practising  among  the  people  of  the 
Eglise  Libre. 

"  Mr.  Dodds  then  opened  with  a  striking  passage  from  the 
Sermon  on  the  Mount.  The  meeting  had  been  announced  as 
a  '  Reunion  Morale.^  Here  was  Gospel  morality  !  How  it 
rang  out  in  contrast  to  the  low  code  current  in  the  world,  the 
only  one  many  of  these  people  knew  ;  how  it  seemed  to  pierce 
to  the  joints  and  marrow,  discerning  the  thought  and  intents  of 
the  heart !  I  never  felt  the  grand  grasp  of  those  precepts  as 
I  did  that  night,  listening,  as  it  were,  with  the  ears  of  these 
people  who  heard  them  perhaps  for  the  first  time. 

' "  It  is  difficult  in  English  to  give  the  true  sense  of 
^Reunion.  Morale?  Perhaps  the  best  translation  would  be 
simply :  *  A  meeting  to  teach  men  how  to  become  better.' 
Both  Mr.  Dodds  and  Mr.  Galland  explained  the  object  of  the 
meeting  somewhat  in  this  strain,  appealing  to  the  auditors 
whether  there  were  not  in  society,  aye,  and  in  the  heart  of  each, 
corruptions  which  urgently  called  for  reform.  And  the  only 
true  reform  was  to  be  had  by  coming  to  this  hooli,  the  Gospel, 
wherein  God  speaks  to  us  of  the  evil  and  its  cure.  Mr.  Pela- 
dan  closed  with  a  few  kind  words,  and  we  thanked  God  for  a 
success  beyond  all  our  expectations. 

"  Only  one  thing  we  regretted — that  miserable  partition  ! 
Could  it  be  pulled  down  next  day  ?  Behind  it  our  old  land- 
lady had  her  kitchen.  We  not  only  felt  delicacy  in  disturb- 
ing her  so  abruptly,  but  remembered  the  dreadfully  unwashed 
appearance  those  smoke-begrimed  walls  would  present  as  a 


294        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodeis, 

background  to  our  fresh  wliiteness  !  We  waited  one  night 
more  to  see  if  the  crowd  were  still  as  great,  before  deciding  on 
its  destruction. 

"  Next  night,  hall  and  court  were  again  overcrowded,  and 
we  knew  that  it  was  not  with  a  mw  audience,  for  a  number  of 
rough  voices,  to  our  surprise,  took  up  the  chorus  of  '  Hold  the 
Fort,'  and  altogether  the  singing  was  so  lusty  that  we  could 
hardly  believe  that  only  on  the  preceding  evening  had  it  been 
new  to  almost  all.  On  announcing  that  any  who  wished 
might  stay  to  practise  after  the  meeting,  the  tears  rose  to  our 
eyes  to  see  the  uncouth  and  grimy  young  workmen  press 
forward  and  stand  shouting  as  if  they  could  never  tire,  until, 
about  ten,  we  were  forced  to  send  them  away.  The  spoken 
word  may  be  forgotten — may,  perhaps,  be  hardly  understood 
by  those  dulled  intellects,  so  different  from  our  sharp  Parisian 
auditors ;  but  will  not  those  melodies  drive  home  to  their 
hearts  truths  which  will  never  leave  them  ? 

"  The  third  night  the  partition  was  no  longer  !  and  the 
addition  to  the  hall  stood  revealed,  conspicuous  by  its  black- 
ness and  its  want  of  proper  seats.  These  impediments  did  not  in 
the  least  interfere  with  the  content  of  the  people  in  finding 
that  they  could  get  in  and  hear.  The  addresses  this  evening 
turned  chiefly  on  the  inability  of  man  to  fulfil  God's  law,  or 
even  to  satisfy  his  own  ideal  of  right,  without  God's  help  and 
Christ's  salvation.  It  was  a  solemn  meeting,  and  we  could  not 
but  think  there  was  a  response  in  many  hearts.  We  stayed 
singing  longer  and  later  than  ever  that  evening,  and  with 
great  regret  shook  some  of  these  horny  hands  for  the  last  time. 
Next  evening  found  us  back  in  Paris. 

"And  how  does  the  work  go  on?  Was  it,  as  some  said, 
curiosity — the  presence  of  strangers  where  strangers  are 
not  so  common  as  in  Paris— that  brought  the  crowds  ? 

"  No  ;  as  it  began,  so  it  goes  on.  The  overcrowding  naturally 
has  ceased,  but  only  last  week  we  heard  that  there  were  as 


Sojourn  at  Clermont-Ferrand,         295 

many  people  as  the  enlarged  room  could  liold.  Mr.  Galland, 
who  passes  his  Wednesday  afternoons  at  Clermont,  finds 
friends  "wherever  he  goes.  A.  lad  salutes  him  cordially  at  the 
railway  station.  Mr.  Galland  replies  kindly  :  '  But  how  do 
you  know  me,  my  friend,'  *0h,  I  have  heard  you  at  the 
meeting  often  ;  I  know  you  well.'  Mr.  Galland  has  a  happy 
knack  of  saying  just  the  right  word  to  everybody — kindly, 
familiar,  almost  jovial,  as  he  showers  tracts  to  right  and 
left.     Few  indeed,  will  be  likely  to  refuse  tracts  from  livm. 

"  Within  a  month,  a  mother's  meeting  has  been  begun  by  our 
friends  Mme.  and  Mdlle.  Guignard  and  Mme.  Peladan  ;  the 
numbers  have  varied  from  nine  to  twelve  and  fifteen.  At 
the  New  Year  the  ladies  propose  beginning  a  Sunday  school. 
We  are  happy  to  hear  that  the  furor  for  cantiques  has  not 
diminished,  as  many  as  eighty  frequently  remaining  after  the 
meeting  to  practise.     The  young  men  particularly  enjoy  this." 

To  this  interesting  account  from  the  Quarterly 
Record,  I  add  a  private  letter,  which  takes  up  some 
details  not  noticed  in  the  above  : — 

"  The  first  thing  needed  was  to  call  for  M.  Peladan,  the  pas- 
teur  of  the  little  Eglise  Libre.  His  congregation  is  poor.  He 
was  given  to  despondency.  He  gave  us  every  help  he  could, 
but  always  with  prophecies  that  it  could  not  succeed.  But  he 
did  brighten  a  little  before  we  left.  The  first  day  we  saw  a 
shop  on  the  principal  place,  and  made  up  our  minds  that  it 
would  exactly  do.  But  the  landlord  was  away.  Mr.  Dodds 
had  to  leave  for  a  little,  and  when  he  came  back  he  found  that 
the  salle  had  been  refused.  Then  began  a  hunt,  and  in  two 
days  we  saw  about  thirty;  always  some  objection, — '  it  will  pro- 
duce bad  effects  ; '  and  over  and  over  again  we  were  told  that 
the  thing  would  never  succeed  at  Clermont, — the  Jesuits  had 
such  power.  Those  who  were  not  held  back  by  their  own 
scruples  were  afraid  of  their  neighbours.  We  met  kindness,  how- 


296        Memo  17'  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

ever,  from  some  people  wlio  would  gladly  liave  sublet  their 
shop  to  us,  but  dared  not  for  the  landlord.  They  helped  us  in 
every  way  to  find  another.  A  son  and  another  boy  who  stayed 
with  them  helped  us  to  ransack  every  corner.  At  first  they 
were  sure  of  finding,  then  hope  died  out.  It  made  one  almost 
giddy  to  walk  round  and  round  these  queer  old  streets  so 
often,  and  always  the  same  story  at  the  end.  Then  we  thought 
we  would  give  up.    Clermont  would  have  to  wait  another  year. 

"  The  Wesleyan  pastor  at  Thiers  is  a  fine  cheery  fellow,  afraid 
of  nothing,  and  wishing  nothing  better  than  to  find  an  opening 
in  Clermont.  His  own  church  in  Thiers  goes  on  well,  and  he 
has  a  capitally  attended  reunion,  although  it  is  up  two  stairs  in 
a  dark  passage.  Forty  years  ago  there  was  not  a  Protestant 
in  Thiers.  A  man  there  told  me  that  his  father  was  the  first 
converted  there.  Well,  we  left  Mr,  Galland  at  mid-day  on 
Tuesday,  the  4th,  little  thinking  that  he,  would  be  coming  to 
ws  that  day- week  by  the  same  train.     Yet  so  it  was. 

"  When  we  got  back  it  just  occurred  to  us  to  go  and  look  at  a 
room  that  had  been  mentioned  to  us,  but  which  we  feared  was 
too  out  of  the  way.  We  found  it  in  a  very  6ZincZ-looking  street, 
and  within  a  court,  so  that  no  one  could  find  it  who  was  not 
seeking  it.  Still  it  was  a  nice  room,  had  been  used  by  the  free- 
masons, and  had  some  painted  roses  on  the  panels,—  otherwise 
awfully  dirty.  A  good  part  of  it  had  been  boarded  off,  and 
seemed  the  kitchen  of  the  landlady,  a  kind  old  woman.  Thai, 
we  thought,  we  should  not  need,  as  the  larger  part  would  hold 
120.  She  was  willing  to  let  us  have  it,  though  a  little  nervous 
because  her  son-in-law  was  away.  However,  it  was  settled  ; 
and  the  menuisier  (joiner),  pldtrier  (plasterer),  lampiste  (lamp- 
maker),  &c.,  had  to  be  sought  for.  Chaii-s  seemed  not 
much  dearer  than  in  Paris  ;  but  by  putting  benches  all  round 
the  wall,  and  chairs  in  the  middle,  we  managed.  Then  bills 
and  notices  had  to  be  printed.      There  is  a  poor  little  dwarf 


Sojourn  at  Clermont- Fe^^i^and.         297 


who  lias  patiently  sat  for  years  in  a  kiosque  Biblique  with  very 
small  success  ;  he  was  a  great  help  in  distributing  the  bills. 
Of  course  in  such  a  place  we  could  not  expect  to  attract  the 
passers-by,  so  the  advertising  was  all  done  beforehand.  I 
had  managed  to  fish  out  a  few  people  who  could  sing.  ...  I 
got  an  introduction  to  a  family,  and  went  on  a  Sabbath  after- 
noon, exactly  at  the  hour  when  they  should  have  been  coming 
home  from  church.  I  found  them  all,  mother,  daughter,  two 
boys,  father,  and  visitors,  sitting  enjoying  music, — ^piano  and 
violin.  It  did  not  look  encouraging.  Yet  when  I  told  them 
my  errand  they  were  perfectly  delighted,  and  promised  all  to 
come  and  help.  I  believe  many  of  the  people  have  a  desire  for 
something  good,  but  they  stay  away  from  church  because  they 
get  nothing  there.  ...  Do  let  us  pray  that  these  poor  unfed 
Protestants  may  be  the  first  to  get  something  for  themselves. 
They  do  need  it.  .  .  .  Well,  by  Tuesday  everything  was  right 
— white  and  clean,  lamps,  no  gas  ;  a  few  odd  texts  which  had 
been  scorned  in  Paris  were  all  we  could  get  hold  of.  .  .  .  Will 
anybody  do  any  more  ?  It  was  rather  exciting  the  first  even- 
ing, for  some  said  nobody  would  dare  to  come.  Others  said  a 
great  many  would.  The  latter  were  right.  The  hall  was 
packed,  until  no  more  could  get  in,  and  the  disappointed 
people  made  a  noise  outside.  Inside  there  was  perfect  quiet- 
ness ;  few  women,  however,  came  except  Protestants.  I  think 
the  greater  number  came  from  curiosity.  Those  outside  said 
different  things  ;  some  '  0  td  la  conference  de  la  Republiquey ' 
some  '  On  raconte  la  vie  de  Jesus.'  They  waited  about,  sure 
that  those  inside  would  soon  tire  of  it,  and  they  would  get 
their  seats.  But  not  one  seat  did  they  get  in  that  way.  Of 
course  we  sang  a  lot  of  the  old  hymns.  Mr.  Dodds  read  a  bit 
of  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount ;  and  I  never  felt  the  words  come 
with  such  power  before.  One  felt  how  new  they  must  sound 
to  these  ignorant  people,  so  little  accustomed  to  bring  their 
actions  into  such  hi^h  light.      He  then  told  them  about  the 


298        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

Mission,  and  its  beginning  in  Paris.  Mr.  Galland  told  them 
why  it  was  that  a  people  had  need  of  '  la  morale,^  and  where 
the  only  true  '  morale '  was  to  be  found.  .  .  .  We  had  intima- 
mated  the  meetings  for  three  nights  running.  The  next  night 
it  was  just  as  full,  and  a  good  many  must  have  been  the  same 
people ;  for  when  I  struck  up  '  Hold  the  Fort,'  behold  they 
knew  the  tune  !  The  third  night  the  partition  was  down,  and 
the  old  woman  was  banished  from  her  kitchen,  whose  grimy 
blackness  showed  in  awful  contrast  to  the  white-washed  part. 
It  was  a  painful  necessity  ;  but  I  suppose  that  long  ere  now 
that  end  is  as  white  as  the  other.  The  salle  now  holds  160,  at 
least.  The  last  night,  after  the  meeting  was  done,  we  had  a 
long  singing  practice  ;  and  oh,  the  queer,  sooty  young  fellows 
that  stayed  to  it,  and  looked  as  if  they  would  never  tire  !  I 
feel  these  hymns  will  stay  in  their  minds,  and  teach  them  the 
Gospel,  when  perhaps  they  have  forgotten  all  that  was  said. 
They  are  so  very  ignorant.  I  never  saw  so  many  people  who 
could  not  read  ;  not  only  the  old  people,  but  boys  and  girls, 
never  thinking  of  learning.    We  came  away  very  much  cheered. 

"M.  L.  D." 

Meanwhile  Mr.  Dodds  had  been  visiting  the  "  High 
Alps,"  and  greatly  enjoying  the  change.  He  wrote  at 
considerable  length  to  his  friends  at  home  regarding 
this  tour.  But  only  a  part  of  these  most  interesting 
epistolary  narratives  can  be  here  inserted.  The  first 
is  to  myself: 

"  Clermont-Ferrand,  Put  de  D6me, 
France,  ^Uh  September,  1881. 
"  I  greatly  enjoyed  my  tour  among  the  French  Vaudois  ; 
it  was  doubly  pleasant  to  have  M.  Reveillaud  with  me.     If 


Visit  to  the  H mites  Alpes.  299 

God  spares  liiiii  he  will  do  a  great  work  in  France  yet ;  and  lie 
is  so  clearly  on  tlie  evangelical  side — so  hearty  in  his  detesta- 
tion of  the  slightest  tendency  to  rationalism,  so  dissatisfied 
with  anything  short  of  conversion — that  one  may  hope  that 
his  work  will  be  very  thorough.  I  heard  him  give  a  '  Confer- 
ence' at  Gap,  the  'Vapincum'  of  the  Eomans.  The  meeting 
was  held  in  a  cafe  ;  when  we  entered  the  people  were  sitting 
round  tables  drinking  and  smoking.  We  had  a  very  difficult 
audience  to  deal  with.  Gap  is  clerical  and  indifi'erent,  and 
both  parties  adverse  to  the  Gospel.  '  Don't  say  too  much  about 
Christ,'  said  a  municipal  councillor  to  him  on  entering.  But 
he  did  say  a  great  deal  about  Christ,  introducing  the  Gospel 
most  skilfully  ever}"where,  and  repeating  the  parable  of  the 
Prodigal  Son  ;  in  fact,  while  the  audience  were  listening  to  a 
bit  of  history  or  controversy,  they  found  themselves  all  at 
once  listening  to  the  GospeL  He  speaks  with  great  power 
and  force,  and  sometimes  serious  invective  when  he  addresses 
meetings  of  that  kind.  The  conversations  I  have  had  with 
him  convince  me  that  the  movement  in  France  is  far  deeper 
than  many  think.  He  says  the  French  are  moutonnier  (like 
sheep)  as  to  character  ;  they  go  in  bands,  and  each  one  is  afraid 
to  move  alone  ;  and  no  wonder,  considering  how  they  have 
been  governed  and  trained  and  taught ;  but  if  there  was  a 
general  movement  towards  Protestantism,  the  results  of  sowing 
the  seed  would  appear. 

"  We  visited  Dormilhouse,  1800  metres  above  the  sea,  high- 
pitched,  for  it  is  more  like  a  camp  than  a  village,  on  a  shelv- 
ing miniature  valley  surrounded  with  mountains  unspeakably 
barren  and  rude,  exposed  to  constant  avalanches  in  winter — a 
winter  of  eight  or  nine  months,  during  which  they  live  in  the 
stables,  eating  their  food  by  rations,  huddled  together  with 
sheep  and  oxen  to  get  heat,  and  coming  out  in  the  spring-time 
pale  and  thin— the  sheep  sometimes  flying  as  many  as  a  quarter 
of  the   whole  number,  because   of   the  sudden   change  from 


Meinoir  of  Rev.  G,  T.  Dodds. 


starvation  and  confinement  to  plenty,  and  freedom,  and  ligld. 
I  brought  home  some  pieces  of  the  fain  de  seigle  (rye-bread), 
the  hard  bread  which  is  generally  made  once  a-year,  some- 
times every  six  months.  In  every  house,  after  you  stoop  to 
enter  the  door,  and  when  your  eyes  get  accustomed  to  the 
dingy,  black-smoked  walls,  and  cloudy  atmosphere,  one  notices 
a  thick  board  with  a  hollow  in  it,  and  a  large  knife  attached 
at  the  end  of  the  blade  to  a  hook  at  the  head  of  the  hollow. 
The  hard  bread  is  placed  beneath  that  knife,  and  cut  with 
lever  power.  They  have  eggs,  and  marmotte,  and  chamois, 
and  milk,  but  they  are  very  poor.  Every  imaginable  bit  of 
arable  land  is  cultivated  (their  plough  is  most  primitive  ;  a 
woman  and  ass  used  to  be  seen  not  so  long  ago  drawing  it), 
and  protected  by  stone  walls,  to  support  the  earth,  which  would 
be  easily  swept  away  by  the  rain.  Some  of  these  pieces  of 
land  are  so  small  that  a  cow  could  not  turn  round  in  them ; 
they  are  divided  and  subdivided  by  father  and  son  as  they 
leave  their  heritage  to  their  children.  I  saw  a  tree — a  large 
plane  tree— of  which  the  wood  for  burning  belonged  to  three 
proprietors  !  The  people,  I  think,  import  their  hats  and 
buttons,  the  former  only  sometimes  ;  they  manufacture  every- 
thing else ;  a  sort  of  linen  from  a  flaxy  plant  called  '  Chanfrt^,' 
coats,  &c.  from  the  wool  of  their  sheep,  and  they  make  their 
own  boots  very  well  indeed.  Such  is  their  life  ;  but  they  are 
a  hardy,  intelligent,  religious  race  ;  Lombards,  not  Gauls  ; 
Goths  by  descent,  and  still  retaining  their  ancestors'  character 
so  well  as  to  be  unmistakably  different  from  the  inhabitants 
of  the  same  valley  lower  down,  with  whom  they  very  often 
intermarry.  We  spoke  to  a  good  many  of  them,  and  were 
struck  with  their  intelligence.  On  saying  'Good-bye'  they 
all  invariably  said  '  Dieu  vous  conduit,'  or  'Que  Dieu  vous 
guide.'  The  church  they  have  was  once  a  Roman  Catholic 
one  ;  the  font  for  holy  water  is  still  there ;  but  a  pulpit 
replaces  the  altar,  and  a  large  Bible  the  mass-book.      It  and 


Visit  to  the  Ha2ttes  Alpes.  301 

the  priest's  house  are  no-w  in  the  hands  of  the  Protestants,  for 
there  is  not  a  Roman  Catholic  in  the  village.  We  went  into 
the  church — M.  Brunei  the  pastor,  the  schoolmaster,  M. 
Reveillaucl,  and  myself — and  sang  'Grand  Dieu  nous  te 
benissons,'  and  Luther's  '  C'est  un  rempart  que  notre  Dieu.' 
I  sketched  Felix  Neff's  house,  or  one  of  his  houses,  for  his 
was  an  immense  parish.  We  had  dejeuner  in  the  cure's  house, 
having  brought  up  bread  and  wine  with  us.  We  bought 
twenty-six  eggs  from  the  people  and  made  an  omelette  ;  I  cal- 
culated that  I  had  eaten  nine  eggs,  besides  bread — the  mountain 
air  had  sharpened  our  appetites.  It  was  a  most  beautiful  day ; 
a  sky  of  the  blue  called  '  Le  roi  d'or'  by  the  French,  an  Italian 
blue  of  intense  depth,  and  airy  light,  the  sharp  toothed  edges 
of  the  peaks  fretting  it  with  wonderful  distinctness  and  deli- 
cacy. Why  do  ladies  say  that  green  and  blue  should  never 
go  together  ?  I  never  saw  anything  more  lovely  than  this  deep 
Italian  blue,  as  it  appeared  behind  and  through  the  green  of 
the  trees.  We  could  not  have  had  a  finer  day.  The  moun- 
tains were  covered  with  numberless  scented  aromatic  and 
medicinal  plants,  which  perfumed  the  air  as  we  trod  on  them  ; 
and  our  path  was  alive  with  fleet  green  and  grey  lizards,  and 
grasshoppers  which  wore  wings  of  all  colours,  some  two  inches 
long,  and  able  to  take  immense  leaps,  as  well  as  to  sing  at  such 
a  high  octave  that  we  had  music  all  the  way.  We  bought  a 
marmotte,  which  had  been  shot,  from  one  of  the  natives  on 
the  way  home,  and  ate  it  next  day  ;  it  was  like  a  hare,  and 
very  good.  They  get  very  fat  in  autumn,  and  sleep  all  winter. 
I  saw  several  eagles  flying  along  the  crests  of  the  mountains  ; 
it  seems  they  are  very  abundant  there.  We  had  a  meeting 
that  evening  at  Pallons,  where  we  were  staying  with  Pastor 
Brunei.  It  was  something  to  speak  to  the  very  descendants  of 
the  men  who,  few  in  number,  on  the  road  to  Dormilhouse,  had 
guarded  the  path  and  defeated  their  persecutors  and  would- 
be  assassins  by  hurling  down  heavy  masses  of  rock  on  them, 


Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds. 


their  only  weapons  being  a  hammer  and  iron  rod.  We  also 
visited  a  Vaudois  cam  or  grotto— caves  almost  within  caves, 
and  their  burying-ground,  situated  in  a  most  inaccessible  posi- 
tion. The  rest  of  our  tour  was  through  the  rest  of  the  valleys  ; 
some  are  wide  and  fertile,  others  grey  and  bare,  and  shut  in 
with  high,  frowning  rocks,  with  a  roaring  mountain-torrent, 
all  the  way  below  the  road  on  which  we  drove,  sometimes  cut 
out  of  the  solid  rock.  One  of  these  passes — owe,  for  many 
claim  to  be  the  pass — is  said  to  have  been  Hannibal's.  We 
crossed  over  to  Italy  from  Abries  and  by  the  Col  de  la  Croix, 
and,  after  spending  the  night  in  the  Albergo  delli  Alpi  and 
hearing  Piedmontese  patois,  we  descended  by  Bobi  to  La  Tour, 
where  we  spent  Sunday,  mostly  with  the  Appias,  who  had  met 
us  at  the  Albergo.  One  of  the  sons  read  to  us  a  MS.  of  his 
father  on  the  Vaudois  of  Fenestral,  a  neighbouring  valley 
where  there  are  no  Protestants  now,  the  victory  of  Eome 
being  visible  to-day  in  that  the  peasants  wear  a  golden  cross. 
We  went  on  Monday  to  Turin,  saw  M.  Meille,  and  returned 
l)y  Oulx  (the  Ocelum  of  Csesar)  and  Brian^on  in  the  diligence 
to  Gap,  and  from  thence  to  Clermont." 

The  next  is  to  his  parents : — 

"Clermont,  21th  September,  1881. 
"I  arrived  here  last  Thursday  morning,  travelling  almost 
straight  from  Turin  ;  that  city  we  left  on  Tuesday  morning  at 
five  o'clock  ;  it  was  still  dark  when  R.  and  I  got  into  the  car- 
riage, and  were  wheeled  away  to  Oulx,  which  is  on  the  road 
to  Modena.  At  Oulx  we  got  out,  and  w^ent  straight  on  to  the 
diligence  for  Briangon.  We  were  still  on  Italian  ground,  and 
enjoyed  the  Alpine  scenery,  more  rich  and  fertile  than  the 
passes  on  the  French  side.  We  were  rather  hungry,  having 
had  nothing  on  leaving  Turin,  but  the  mountain  air  was  invigor- 
ating, and  a  dreaded  headache  was  wafted  away.     Soon  we  got 


Visit  to  the  Halites  Alpes,  303 


to  Cesanne,  and  there  we  landed  in  ratlier  a  dirty  albergo,  but 
in  these  Alpine  quarters  eggs  and  bread  and  wine  are  very  good 
fare.     Then  we  got  on  to  the  diligence  again,  on  the  top  this 
time,  having  been  almost  stifled  in  the  coupe,  but  if  stifled 
with  dust  in  that  coupe,  we  were  painfully  cramped  up  on 
the  front  of  the  diligence  ;    the  top  is  covered  over  with  an 
immense  hCich^,  a  covering  of  waterproof ;  beneath  are  stowed 
human  beings  and  luggage,  and  the  three  favoured  front  seats 
are  immediately  below  the  ending  of  this  elegant  awning ; 
there  we  sat  twisting  our  necks,  and  trying  to  admire  the 
scenery,  perched  as  it  were  in  the  front  of  a  bonnet,  and  on  the 
brow  of  the  coach.     We  had  picked  up  a  pastor,  and  made  his 
acquaintance,  or  rather  he  had  made  ours — taken  M.  R.  and 
myself  for  professors,  but  changing  his  mind  when  he  saw  a  New 
Testament  in  my  hand  !      He  was  a  brother-in-law  of  young 
Baridon,  near  Dormilhouse,  the  name  of  a  well-known  family 
in  that  valley,  Vaudois  to  the  back-bone,  and  right  stalwart 
Protestants,  not  to  say  decided  Christians.      So  we  fraternised 
with  him,  and  left  him  only  at  Briangon.      Briancon  is  very 
strongly  fortified,  is  indeed  the  first  fort  for  strength  in  the 
'  valleys ;  it  was  strange  to  find  oneself  rumbling  over  two  draw- 
bridges, and  up  a  very  narrow   drive,  through   an  equally 
narrow,  very  strong,  solid-looking  gate,  and  into  the  streets  of 
the  ancient  city,  where  there  is  hardly  room  for  two  waggons 
to  pass  each  other.      There   are  very  few  Protestants  in  the 
city,  but  a  teacher  is  there,  and  the  few  families  are  visited 
from  time  to  time  by  an  evangelist. 

"  One  sign  of  the  persecutions  struck  me  both  painfully  and 
powerfully  ;  in  the  Italian  and  French  valleys  on  both  sides  of 
the  boundary  chain  of  Alps  the  women  wore  a  cross  round 
their  necks  ;  in  the  valley  of  Fenestrelle  and  Agrogna  these 
crucifixes  are  of  pure  gold  ;  it  is  a  distinguishing  mark  of 
Catholics,  handed  down  from  the  awful  killing  time  when  tlie 
vilest  men  tortured  and  killed  tlieir  victims,  mostly  women  and 


304        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


children,  in  the  vilest  manner.      The   people  are  dull  and 
ignorant ;  the  natural  results  of  Romanism." 

The  next  is  to  his  brother,  looking  with  a  botanical 

eye  on  these  Alpine  regions  : — 

"  Clermont-Ferrand, 

28i/t  September,  1881. 

"  I  should  have  sent  the  accompanying  packets  of  ferns  before 
this.  I  thought  that  your  love  for  these  plants  was  anything 
but  dead,  and  so  I  could  not  resist  gathering  them  during  my 
Alpine  journey.  I  found  the  Asplenium  Germanicum,  as  you 
know,  a  very  rare  plant,  but  it  was  out  of  reach  in  the  edge  of  a 
steep  rock.  I  knocked  out  some  fronds  with  my  umbrella.  Had 
M.  Reveillaud  not  gone  on  before  I  should  have  asked  him  to 
let  me  stand  on  his  shoulders  !  The  Asplenium  fontanum  was 
in  abundance ;  I  found  the  specimens  at  Pallons,  near  Dormil- 
house,  the  A.  septentrionale  as  we  descended  the  valley  from 
the  Col  de  la  Croix  to  La  Tour,  the  holly  in  the  same  place  ; 
the  ceterach  at  Pallons ;  the  large  plant,  however,  which  I 
send,  was  found  yesterday  ;  it  seems  pretty  well  distributed, 
though  not  common,  about  the  Alpine  districts. 

"  I  enjoyed  my  tour  amazingly,  having  reason  to  do  so,  both 
from  the  country  itself,  and  having  such  a  companion.  We 
addressed  meetings  here  and  there,  but  not  many ;  the  most 
interesting  after  St.  Laurentz  was  at  Pallons,  where  we  had  the 
descendants  of  the  Vaudois  to  listen  to  us, — such  splendid 
men  in  every  way.  Not  handsome,  certainly,  but  with  a 
physique  that  one  might  envy, — splendid  chamois-hunters  ; 
they  can  climb  on  the  steep  rocks  like  goats.  We  picked  up 
friends  everywhere,  and  where  we  least  expected  ;  sometimes 
people  speculated  who  we  might  be,  and  we  who  they  were, 
and  in  the  end  imparted  our  experiences  to  each  other,  which 
were  a  little  amusing.     The  Vaudois  Church  seems  to  be  verv 


Visit  to  the  Hautes  Alpes.  305 

prosperous.  We  arrived  at  La  Tour  just  after  tlieir  synodey 
the  valley  is  very  fruitful,  j)eaclies  and  grapes  in  great  abun- 
dance, but  tlie  Italian  Government  should  be  ashamed  of  its 
roads.  We  attended  a  Sunday  school  at  La  Tour,  very  large 
and  very  well  conducted.  R  and  I  spoke  to  the  children,  who 
understand  French,  Italian,  and  Piedmontese,  which  is  a  mid- 
way dialect ;  there  is  yet  a  patois  spoken  in  the  villages  and  up 
the  valley,  even  to  the  French  Alps.  The  service  at  La  Tour 
was  in  French.  We  stopped  a  few  minutes  at  Bobi,  on  the 
way  to  La  Tour,  and  saw  the  pastor ;  he  showed  us  his  church, 
and  its  steeple  standing  apart  from  it  on  a  rock  behind  the 
church  ;  the  Vaudois  were  forbidden  to  build  their  steeple 
above  a  certain  height,  but  as  this  would  never  have  been  seen 
in  the  valley,  the  church  hiding  it,  they  built  it  on  a  rock,  thus 
evading  the  law,  while  keeping  the  steeple  the  appointed 
height.  It  was  also  forbidden  to  pastors  to  sleep  anywhere 
beyond  a  certain  radius.  One  pastor  detained  beyond  the 
limit  spent  the  night  on  a  chair,  this  not  being  a  bed,  thus 
evading  the  law  !  They  have  complete  liberty  now  ;  in- 
deed since  1848  they  have  had  most  of  these  restrictions  taken 
away,  and  seem  to  have  influence  everywhere,  the  king  being 
very  fond  of  his  Vaudois. 

"  I  must  close,  as  I  am  leaving  for  St.  Etienne.  I  am  afraid 
we  are  not  going  to  get  a  salle  at  Clermont  at  present 
because  of  clericalism  and  indifferentism." 

He  visited  several  places  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Clermont,  among  others  a  village  called  Bechon,  and 
held  a  meeting  at  one  o'clock  in  a  low-roofed,  earthen- 
floored,  miserable  room,  half  workshop  and  half  house. 
The  people  flocked  in,  sitting  on  boards,  on  wine- 
tubs, — children  squatting  on  the  floor,  with  their 
little  hands  joined  together  before  them.     Mr.  Dodds 


3o6        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


addressed  them   on,   "Follow   the   Lamb,"    "suiver 
I'agneau," 

I  add  only  one  letter  more  concerning  these  interest- 
ing villages  and  towns  of  Auvergne,  dated  5th  October, 
1881  :— 

"  I  have  just  been  visiting  St.  Etienne  and  Thiers.  St.  E. 
is  very  unlike  a  French  town,  and  very  like  an  English  or 
Scotch  manufacturing  or  mining  town.  There  are  great  coal 
mines,  which  are  only  being  opened  up  now,  and  the  place 
has  sprung  up  and  become  a  considerable  town  from  being 
only  a  village,  in  a  very  short  ^time.  We  have  three  stations 
there,  and  it  is  about  the  finest  field  for  mission  w^ork  I  ever 
saw.  It  was  quite  a  sight  to  see  the  rows  of  grimy,  black- 
haired  and  black-visaged  workmen  sitting  listening  eagerly  to 
the  Gospel,  and  sometimes  expressing  openly  their  satisfaction. 
They  did  not  receive  the  meetings  very  cordially  everywhere, 
and  in  one  salle  I  saw  a  tendency  to  disturb  us  ;  but  that  very 
soon  goes  down.  The  children's  meetings  were  the  quietest  of 
the  kind  I  have  seen,  except  in  one  or  two  of  our  salles  at 
Paris.  ...  I  spent  from  Saturday  to  Tuesday  morning  at 
Thiers,  an  hour  and  a-half  s  rail  from  this. 

"  Thiers  is  a  most  picturesque  French  town,  lying  scattered 
all  along  the  steep  sides  of  the  valley  of  the  Durole,  wdth  the 
rushing  river  of  that  name  driving,  in  its  passage  through  a 
narrow  channel,  many  mills,  almost  all  of  them  for  making 
knives.  The  whole  town  seems  to  be  a  coutelkrie,  though 
there  are  one  or  two  x^aper  mills  for  Bank-note  paper.  .  .  . 
On  Sunday  I  preached  in  the  morning,  and  in  the  evening 
went  to  M.  Galland's  meeting,  through  such  narrow  streets, 
very  old,  and  with  exquisite  pieces  of  carving  above  the  doors 
and  imder  the  archways  !  There  were  above  eighty  people, 
mostly  Catholics,  gathered   together  in  a  very   stuffy,  low- 


Visit  to  the  Hatites  Alpes.  307 

roofed  room  in  a  third  storey.  Those,  therefore,  who  come 
must  be  very  determined  to  hear  the  Gospel,  for  they  have  to 
climb  lip  two  very  steep  staircases.  I  spoke  to  them  of  the 
'  Chemin  qui  mene  aiix  cieux,''  showing  them  that  it  was 
neither  by  suffering  (for  then  animals  would  have  the  same 
right),  nor  by  good  works,  nor  by  letting  things  just  go  on,  but 
by  Christ's  merits  that  we  are  saved. 

"  On  Monday  Mary  arrived  from  Clermont  at  half-past  seven 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  we  went  out  to  hold  a  meeting  at 
mid-day  in  a  village  a  few  months  ago  wholly  Catholic  ;  the 
priests  are,  however,  in  bad  odour  there.  M.  Galland  got 
there  by  means  of  a  colporteur,  who  told  them  he  would  bring 
a  good  Republican  to  see  them,  and  so  bit  by  bit  M.  Galland 
worked  his  way  in,  and  when  I  went  out  I  found  a  people 
most  willing  to  hear  the  Gospel.  It  was  a  very  strange  sight. 
We  had  only  one  or  two  chairs  ;  the  people  stood,  some  of 
them  all  over  the  room  and  in  the  place  where  the  fire  should 
have  been  lighted,  the  chimney  was  so  high  and  broad  ;  some 
sat  on  the  wine-tubs  used  for  the  vintage  ;  some  were  poking 
their  heads  in  at  the  door  ;  and  children  were  promiscuously 
scattered  about,  two  little  creatures  squatting  on  the  earthen 
floor  and  clasping  their  hands,  quite  a  picture  to  look  at.  I 
spoke  to  them,  and  then  we  sung  and  had  a  prayer,  and  there- 
after there  was  a  scramble  for  tracts. 

"  We  drove  home  quickly,  for  I  had  to  give  a  lecture  on 
America  in  the  evening,  which  was  well  attended.  The 
adjoint  of  the  mayor  was  there,  who  came  up  to  felicitate  me 
on  what  he  called  the  Parisianisin  of  my  French.  I  got  into  a 
talk  with  him,  for  the  poor  man  said  in  answer  to  my  ques- 
tion, 'Yes,  I  am  adjoint,'  and  alas  !  'incredule'  also.  He  was 
a  Deist,  and  his  religion,  '  Do  to  others  as  you  would  be  done 
by.'  I  asked  him  if  he  had  ever  tried  to  preach  that  to  his 
neighbours.  He  said  '  No  ; '  and  I  told  him  that  only  showed 
the  sterility  of  his  faith  ;  that  there  never  had  existed  a  nation 


3o8        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

or  even  a  tribe  of  Deists,  and  that  Christianihj  was  tlie  true 
missionary  religion.  His  almost  last  words  to  me  were,  *  I  am 
disgusted  with  life.' 

"  Poor  man,  he  knew  well  French  literature,  but  Christ  was 
only  greater  in  degree  than  Mirabeau  or  Pascal ;  and  yet  this 
is  the  natural  result  of  the  teaching  of  the  Church  of  Kome. 
I  have  got  a  salle  :  it  costs  160  francs  {£Q)  a-year  !  It  was  a 
Freemasons'  Hall  recently.  I  never  have  met  with  such 
obstacles  anywhere  as  here.  Clericalism  and  indifference  and 
fear,  even  when  the  priests  are  hated.  However,  I  hope  to 
manage  to  hold  three  meetings  before  I  leave,  Friday  14th." 

On  the  14th  of  October  he  returned  from  Clermont 
to  Paris  to  begin  his  winter's  work.  He  had  greatly 
enjoyed  his  stay  in  Auvergne,  and  his  visits  to  the 
different  places  in  that  province.  His  work  at  Cler- 
mont prospered  much  during  his  short  sojourn 
there,  and  it  is  still  carried  on.  A  fire  has  been 
kindled  which  is  not  likely  to  go  out.  But  it 
needs  constant  fanning,  as  well  as  fuel,  and  the  men 
to  do  this  are  not  easily  found.  The  ground  has  been 
broken  up ;  but  the  sowing,  the  watering,  and  the 
"  giving  of  the  increase,"  are  what  we  now  anxiously 
look  for.  Some  Oberlin,  some  Felix  Neff,  some  man 
of  zeal  and  endurance,  fearless  and  full  of  faith  :  this 
is  what  the  country  of  the  Huguenots  needs.  It  has 
all  the  materials  for  a  noble  and  successful  mission. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

PARIS  AGAIN — HOPES  AND  FEARS — SUCCESS — INQUIRY 
MEETINGS — PLANS  ABOUT  CONDUCTING  MEETINGS 
— SPECIMENS  OF  USUAL  WORK  IN  1881  AND  1882. 

^HE  rest  of  this  year  (1881)  passed  on  in  the 
usual  way  :  the  work  on  the  increase,  but  the 
labourers  not  increasing.  The  interest  of  the 
different  audiences  is  deepening,  and  the  blessing  so 
much  longed  and  prayed  for  seems  falling  more  and 
more  plentifully. 

His  letters  are  very  numerous  from  this  period  on 
to  the  end.  Those  to  myself  would  occupy  a  large 
space ;  but  they  must  be  withheld  from  want  of 
room.  His  diary  is  now  blank.  He  has  no  leisure 
even  for  its  brief  jottings. 

But  success  makes  him  fearful  as  to  the  future. 
How  is  this  success  to  be  maintained,  guided,  and 
preserved  from  the  inroads  of  error  and  human 
excitement  ?  If  the  Salvation  Army  take  hold  of  the 
French  mind  and  its  tactics  be  adopted,  the  fruit  of 

309 


3IO        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds, 


all  the  present  labour  and  prayer  may  be  destroyed, 
and  the  result  only  be  a  harvest  of  a  shallow  reli- 
gionism at  the  best,  perhaps  of  fanatical  delusion. 
"  France  is  awake,"  he  says,  "  and  the  Protestants 
of  the  next  generation  will  be  more  inclined  to  work 
than  their  predecessors  ;  but  if  the  religious  life  of 
France  is  turned  into  this  most  seductive  channel, 
it  will  be  most  disastrous."  Cruelly  assailed  by 
"  salvationism,"  "  perfectionism,"  and  "  brethrenism," 
and  other  forms  of  selfish  sectarianism,  would  the 
converts  be  able  to  stand  their  groiind  ?  Religious 
crotchets  multiply,  and  every  hatcher  of  a  new  idea 
thinks  himself  bound  to  form  a  new  sect,  and  to 
proselytise,  or  rather  to  steal,  from  existing  Churches. 
Every  appliance,  however  wild,  whether  addressed  to 
the  eye  or  ear,  is  called  in  by  the  "  Salvationists"  to 
supplement  the  supposed  feebleness  or  failure  of  the 
Gospel,  and  to  awaken  the  passions  of  the  crowd ;  and 
when  the  sound  of  the  drum,  and  trumpet,  and  flute, 
and  bassoon,  and  the  profane  parodies  of  wanton 
songs  have  died  away,  what  of  religion  will  remain  ? 
What  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  the  Spirit  of  calmness,  and 
gentleness,  and  love,  will  be  found  among  the  pro- 
moters or  followers  of  this  religious  frenzy,  this  latter- 
day  lunacy,  which  bears  no  shadow  of  resemblance 
to  the  stillness  and  peace  of  apostolic  Evangelism  ? 
Dreading  the  effects  of  excitement,  and  false  doc- 


S^tccess.  -1 1 1 


trine,  and  uncatholic  rivalry  among  the  little  flock 
or  flocks  that  were  now  being  calmly  gathered,  he 
resolves  to  toil  the  harder,  so  as,  if  possible,  to 
consolidate  the  work  and  indoctrinate  the  disciples 
who  through  the  ministry  of  the  Mission  had  been 
gathered  in.  "  The  work  I  am  doing "  (he  says,  in 
reference  to  these  invasions  of  error),  "  is  of  such  im- 
portance that  it  is  impossible  to  think  of  a  rest  or  a 
night's  absence  without  the  work  suffering." 

In  November,  1881,  he  tells  me  that  there  never 
was  such  a  serious  spirit  among  the  people,  and  such 
a  manifest  desire  to  hear  the  Gospel  for  the  Gospel's 
sake.  "They  know  well  what  it  is  now.  It  is  no 
longer  mere  curiosity  with  them.  Rivoli  is  full  every 
night — mostly  of  men — and  of  these  mostly  young 
men.  I  sent  to  one  of  these  young  men,  '  La  Yraie 
Paix '  and  '  La  Saintet^  Selon  Dieu,'  before  I  left  for 
Clermont ;  and  he  thanked  me  in  a  letter,  in  which 
he  said,  '  Yous  avez  senti  que  venu  de  loin,  et  arriv^ 
d'hier,  j'avais  besoin  d'etre  guide  et  soutenu.'" 

Striking  cases  are  occurring.  A  young  man  attend- 
ing the  Agricultural  School  at  Versailles,  who  had 
shown  interest  in  the  Gospel,  came  out  most  boldly, 
rose  up  in  a  meeting,  and  gave  testimony  to  the 
power  of  the  Gospel  with  great  clearness  and  deci- 
sion. He  said  that  it  was  the  persistent  invitation 
to  the  people  to  read  the  Scriptures  for  themselves 


312        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


that  struck  him  most.    In  doing  this,  he  had  received 
the  light,  and  did  not  mean  to  hide  it. 

He  begins  inquiry  meetings  at  Gare  d'lvry,  and  a 
Bible-class ; — thus  getting  better  at  the  people,  whose 
eagerness  impresses  him  greatly.  He  finds  the  dis- 
pensaries of  great  use,  though  as  yet  there  are  only 
two  of  them.  People  crowd  to  them  who  never 
heard  of  the  meetings ;  and  several  instances  of 
striking  conversion  follow :  one  an  artist-photographer 
at  Les  Ternes.  He  feels  that  it  is  a  time  of  blessing 
in  the  Mission  :  and  adds,  "  I  long  for  more  to  come, 
and  exceed  our  expectations."  Yet  he  notes  that  at 
a  new  meeting  opened  at  Alfortville,  near  Charenton, 
Alain,  the  evangelist,  had  been  attacked  by  a  "  rowdy 
baud  of  regular  *  mauvais  sujets,'  '  repvis  de  police,'' " 
rendering  it  necessary  to  send  for  the  police,  "  a  thing," 
he  adds,  "  which  we  very  seldom  have  to  do." 

About  this  time  Mr.  M'All  prepared  a  scheme  for 
giving  the  Lord's  Supper  to  the  converts  in  the 
different  halls.  This  was  to  be  done,  not  in  connec- 
tion with  any  special  church,  but  on  the  basis  of  the 
Evangelical  Alliance — the  pastor  of  the  district  to  be 
at  the  head.  But  the  French  pastors  declined.  The 
converts  clung  to  the  Mission-hall,  where  they  had 
found  the  eternal  treasure,  and  where  they  got  the 
teaching,  which  they  understood  and  relished.  So 
the   plan   was   relinquished.      Another    plan    for   a 


Sticcess. 


313 


"Society  fratemelle"  was  talked  of,  but  at  that  time 
came  to  nothing.  Something,  however,  will  require 
to  be  done  for  the  converts.  Why  should  they  not 
have  the  Lord's  Supper  in  their  much-loved  halls  ? 

"  We  are  going,"  he  says,  "  to  open  a  children's 
meeting  in  Mr.  Campbell's  hall,  Kue  Lauriston,  on 
Thursday  at  five.  I  have  opened  one  at  Versailles 
on  Tuesdays  at  five,  and  had  forty  children  yester- 
day. Mr.  Greig  was  with  me,  and  spoke  at  both 
meetings  (children's  and  adults'),  and  did  it  admir- 
ably. He  has  a  wonderful  talent  for  bringing  down 
the  Gospel  in  all  its  fulness  to  the  intelligence  of  the 
children."  Both  these  meetings  went  on ;  and  Mr. 
Dodds  attended  them  almost  regularly,  not  intermit- 
ting any  of  his  other  work.  He  found  this  very 
exhausting,  and  would  fain  have  given  up  the 
Lauriston  one,  to  which  he  had  not  pledged  him- 
self; but  no  other  superintendent  could  be  found 
for  these  unruly  children.  "  We  are  really,"  he  says 
at  this  time,  "  in  great  need  of  workers,  and  I  think 
that  money  would  be  better  spent  on  training  a  few 
young  men  than  in  adding  halls.  If  you  can  send 
us  any  regular  good  lady-worker,  she  would  be 
welcome.  What  the  Mission  needs  is  a  substratum 
of  settled  ivorkers." 

There  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  truth  and  wisdom 
of  this  last  remark.     This  Mission  is  far  too  import- 


314        Memoir  of  Rev,  G.  T.  Dodds. 


ant  to  be  left  to  anything  like  a  haphazard  sup- 
port. Like  other  native  societies  it  must  have  its 
regular  well-paid  staff  of  evangelists  or  pastors  or 
workers,  by  whatever  name  they  may  be  called. 
And  if,  in  order  to  accomplish  this,  extension  be  for 
a  while  arrested,  the  arrestment  will  be  for  the  ulti- 
mate benefit  of  the  work. 

He  writes  to  me  of  his  after-meetings  at  Gare 
d'lvry  and  Grenelle ;  upwards  of  sixty  in  each  remain- 
ing behind  to  be  conversed  with.  "  They  are  very 
timid,  and  we  cannot  get  them  to  say  much.  But 
they  lift  up  their  hands  as  a  sign  that  they  want  to 
be  prayed  for,  and  that  is  a  great  effort  for  them  ; 
and  they  let  them  down  before  we  can  well  see  them. 
One  man  found  peace  last  Thursday  night  at  Gare 
d'lvry,  a  sugar  refiner.  He  had  heard  of  Eugene 
Petit,  the  French  ouvrier,  who  died  there  some  time 
ago  in  peace.  Will  you  ask  your  prayer-meeting  to 
remember  these  two  stations  especially,  and  the 
others  also  ?  There  has  been  quite  a  gathering  in  at 
Les  Ternes.  If  we  had  only  more  workers,  devoted 
men  and  women,  what  could  we  not  do  ! " 

In  this  letter  there  is  a  paragraph  which  I  must 
not  withhold.  I  give  it  without  remark  :  "  We  have 
been  very  busy  arranging  our  HodeU  Fraternelle, 
which  is  to  replace  our  project  for  giving  the  com- 
munion, rejected  by  the  pastors.     My  heart  is  sore 


Inquiry  Meetings.  315 

and  heavy  for  our  poor  people,  who  are  needing 
spiritual  privileges,  and  are  refused  them.  If  ever 
men  lost  a  great  opportunity,  these  pastors  did  so 
on  that  day  when  they  rejected  our  proposal.  They 
are  only  half  awake  to  the  tremendous  issues  which 
are  unfolding  themselves  in  France.  This  country 
may  be  won  now.  In  a  short  time  it  may  be  beyond 
reclaiming." 

I  should  not  have  ventured  to  give  such  a  decided 
sentence  did  I  not  know  how  strongly  Mr.  Dodds 
felt  upon  this  point,  and  that  these  words  may  be 
regarded  as  his  dying  message  to  the  pastors  of 
France.  He  loved  the  pastors;  he  enjoyed  their 
fellowship  ;  and  he  longed  to  carry  them  along  with 
him  in  his  plans  for  the  evangelisation  of  their 
native  and  his  adopted  land.  But  perhaps  they 
thought  that  his  plans  would  not  suit  the  genius  of 
the  French  people,  ^and  that  his  Saxon  energy  or 
Scottish  fervour  was  carrying  him  too  far. 

The  "  after-meetings,"  which  he  is  now  carrying 
on  at  the  different  stations,  give  him  double  work ; 
but  they  are  of  signal  use,  and  they  bring  him  into 
closer  contact  with  the  people.  Very  solemn  meet- 
ings he  feels  them  to  be,  and  in  his  letters  at  this 
time  he  often  refers  to  them.  "But,"  he  writes, 
"  when  you  get  to  talk  with  these  people  afterwards, 
what  a  mass  of  darkness  their  mind  is.     Kome  has 


3 1 6        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

done  her  work,  and  done  it  so  effectually  as  no  one 
can  understand  unless  he  has  experienced  it  person- 
ally or  come  into  contact  with  the  people.  The 
absence  of  all  deep  sense  of  sin  is  remarkable.  There 
is  no  conscience.  I  have  been  struck  with  the  way 
in  which  the  converts  receive  the  Gospel.  They 
invariably  say  something  like  this :  '  J'ai  quelque 
chose  dans  mon  coeur  que  je  n'avais  pas  auparavant/ 
'I  have  something  in  my  heart  which  I  had  not 
before.'  This  '  something'  is  all  they  are  conscious  of 
Conviction  of  sin  follows  after.  I  feel  when  speaking 
to  them  in  the  after-meeting  that  I  am  dealing  with 
cases  very  different  from  those  I  should  meet  with  in 
Scotland." 

Impressions  are  being  made  in  many  quarters. 
"  I  had,"  he  writes,  "  a  deeply  interesting  conversa- 
tion with  a  blind  woman  at  Grenelle ;  she  is  cer- 
tainly a  Christian.  She  said  to  me,  'J'etais  si 
grand  pecheresse,  que  je  n'osais  pas  m'approcher  de 
Dieu,  mais  maintenant  plus  je  m'approche  de  lui  par 
la  priere  plus  je  suis  heureuse.'  A  man  said  to  me 
that  he  was  once  so  fond  of  doing  evil  that  nothing 
would  have  given  him  greater  pleasure  than  to  chuck 
a  stone  into  that  same  old  woman's  tin,  which  she 
holds  to  receive  the  sous  of  passers-by.  He  has  been 
a  '  great  sinner '  in  his  day,  and  not  so  long  ago  as 
to  have  acquired  a  good  character  among  his  neigh- 


Inquiry  Meetings,  317 

hours.  He  is  now  a  decided  Christian.  He  passed 
into  Hght  with  no  great  struggle  nor  sense  of  sin ; 
but  he  is  now  inclined  to  doubt  his  salvation,  because 
he  feels  the  struggle  so  hard." 

Several  of  his  letters  at  the  beginning  of  1882  refer 
to  such  cases.  "  So  many  don't  understand  what  it  is 
all  about.  They  think  they  are  all  saved.  '  Oh/ 
they  say,  '  I  know  all  these  things.  I  have  read 
Lamenais '  (les  paroles  d'un  croyant).  Such  is  a 
specimen  of  the  answers  given.  The  work  of  deal- 
ing with  the  people  is  very  difficult. 

"  The  Gospel  wins  some  by  its  beauty,  its  power  to 
satisfy,  and  they  receive  it  joyfully.  The  love  of 
Christ  is  found  to  be  the  great  persuasive  power. 
But  it  is  a  puzzle  to  find  out  in  some  of  the  cases  of 
inquiry  what  feeling  to  appeal  to.  The  Spirit  will 
doubtless  do  His  work,  but  how  are  we  to  approach 
some  of  these  souls,  who  appear  to  be  longing  for 
light?"  Such  are  some  of  Mr.  Dodds'  reflections  as  he 
moves  about  his  daily  work.  His  great  puzzle  is  the 
French  conscience,  or  rather  the  Popish  conscience. 

"  Conscience,"  he  writes,  "  is  here  a  hereditary 
thing.  The  father  hands  it  to  the  child,  and  the 
iniquity  of  the  father  in  stifling  its  voice  is  visited 
upon  the  children.  How  dead  the  moral  sense  is ! 
The  more  I  work  here  the  more  astounded  I  become. 
Rome  has  done  her  work.     There  is  no  conscience 


3i8        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

hardly  to  appeal  to,  and  no  Scripture  knowledge  to 
reckon  on.  No  one  who  has  not  worked  among  this 
people  can  have  any  idea  of  it." 

Some  English  visitors  forget  the  difference  between 
French  and  English  ways.  One  at  St.  Honore  won- 
dered because  men  did  not  rise  at  once  and  say  they 
were  saved,  or  that  they  wished  to  be  prayed  for.  On 
this  Mr.  Dodds  remarks,  "  It  is  more  difficult  at  this 
station  than  elsewhere.  The  ouvrier  is  more  suscep- 
tible than  the  bourgeois  ;  the  latter  listens  with  the 
air  of  a  man  who  says  inwardly,  '  0  oui,  je  connais 
tout  9a.'  I  had  a  young  man  calling  on  me  to-day. 
His  father  is  an  exiled  Prussian.  He  came  in,  when 
passing,  to  my  meeting  at  the  Trocadero  on  Sunday. 
He  attends  regularly,  and  asked  my  address.  I  had 
a  long  talk  with  him.  When  I  asked  him,  some 
Sundays  ago,  what  he  knew  of  Christ  and  of  sin,  he 
appeared  to  think  he  knew  all,  and  that  it  was  wrong 
of  me  to  doubt  him.  I  felt  when  sitting  beside  him 
to-day  that  I  could  say  nothing, — only  pray.  I  did 
try  various  ways;  for  he  appeared  solemnised  last 
Sunday, — bowed  his  head  in  prayer,  and  told  me  he 
wished  to  call  on  me ;  and  yet  to-day,  when  talking, 
and  when  I  was  trying  to  isolate  the  Gospel  and 
Christ  from  all  else,  to  show  him  that  it  was  all  differ- 
ent from  other  systems,  he  said  to  me,  '  I  quite  agree 
with  you ;  do  you  not  see  that  I  am  exactly  in  your 


Ltqutry  Meetings.  3 1 9 

views'  'dans  vos  idees.'  Yet  I  found  he  had  very 
clear  views  regarding  the  ouvriers.  I  told  him  of 
several  conversions,  to  see  if  that  would  awaken  any 
sign  of  felt  ignorance,  need,  and  longing.  But  no ; 
he  remained  perfectly  passive,  and  told  me  he  was 
trying  to  do  good  by  writing  novels, — moral  in  their 
tone,  I  suppose.  This  young  man  is  like  many  here  ; 
they  are  not  drawn  to  us  or  the  Gospel  by  direct 
spiritual  need,  or  anything  like  a  sense  of  sin.  But 
they  hear  such  a  Gospel  nowhere  else  ;  and  they  see 
that  we  are  different  from  others,  and  that  we  repre- 
sent the  Gospel  in  our  practice.  '  There  is  truth  in 
that,'  is  what  they  invariably  say;  and  that  with  many 
is  the  first  step  towards  the  kingdom.  It  will  not  do 
simply  to  preach  the  terrors  of  the  law ;  a  peculiar 
combination  of  both  law  and  Gospel  is  needed.  The 
Roman  Catholic  teaching  has  represented  such  a  God 
to  them, — sometimes  a  furious,  irritated  God,  and 
sometimes  the  very  opposite,  a  hon  Lieu,  a  lump  of 
benevolence.  I  can  understand  how  Luther,  before 
his  conversion,  said  that  the  very  name  of  Jesus  brought 
terror  to  his  soul.  Strange  to  say,  there  is  something 
of  that  kind  here,  with  this  difference  that  the  people 
whose  fathers  were  threatened  by  the  priests,  and 
trembled  at  the  Church's  God  and  the  Church's  tenets, 
are  to-day  no  longer  afraid,  though  they  remember 
the  language  of  terror.    They  recognise  the  thing,  but 


Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


they  don't  fear  it.  Either  they  will  say,  'Je  nai 
jamais  fais  du  mal  au  bon  Dieu,  et  le  bon  Dieu  ne  me 
fera  pas  du  mal  a  moi ; '  or  '  Dieu  est  trop-bon  pour 
m'envoyer  en  enfer.'  In  the  first  case  'enfer'  is 
ignored.  In  the  second  it  has  lost  its  power,  for  the 
reply   was   created   by  the  continual  threat  of  the 

priest.     Young is  about  to  enter  into  our  work  ; 

he  who  was  '  taken  in  the  net '  at  Rivoli,  three  years 
ago.  He  is  to  be  trained.  If  we  had  money  we  could 
train  others.  Another  man  is  in  the  ministere  des 
finances.  No  one  is  appointed  in  France  to  any  office 
connected  with  this  ministere  without  his  approval. 
He  is  a  most  decided  Christian.  This  will  give  you 
some  idea  of  the  anti-clerical  attitude  of  the  cabinet. 
If  a  man  is  candidate  for  any  position,  and  is  known 
to  attend  mass,  his  name  is  at  once  struck  off,  however 
good  a  republican  he  may  be.  Paul  Bert,  a  cold- 
blooded positivist  and  vivisectionist,  is  to  revise  the 
Concordat,  and  is  already  doing  it." 

On  the  14th  of  January,  1882,  he  writes  to  me  very 
warmly  of  some  interesting  cases  of  conversion  that 
had  come  to  light  unexpectedly.  They  greatly  cheer 
him.  "  I  know  of  other  like  instances,"  he  adds  :  "  so 
much  is  this  a  work  of  seed-sowing.  I  feel  inquiry 
meetings  here  necessary  to  get  at  the  people.  I  see, 
however,  that  1  am  extreme  in  my  desire  to  know  how 
to  adapt  the  Gospel  to  the  people.    You  say.  Tell  a  man 


Inquiry  Meetings.  321 

whatever  or  whoever  he  may  be,  what  God  has  done  ! 
That  I  feel  to  be  true.  I  believe  that  the  persevering 
proclamation  of  the  Gospel  to  the  people,  night  after 
night,  is  what  is  wanted.  We  shall  soon  have  our 
Societe  fratemelle  constituted  in  each  station.  It  will 
bring  the  truly  converted  together.  ...  I  never  saw 
the  mission  so  prosperous  outwardly,  and,  above  all, 
spiritually. 

"  Ask  your  congregation  from  us,  to  pray  for  our 
meetings.  Surely  we  shall  have  a  blessing ;  and  all 
this  is  only  the  first  drops.    Oh,  for  faith  to  expect !" 

In  no  letter  does  he  omit  to  give  tidings  of  his 
mission  work,  however  brief  "  We  had  a  very  good 
after-meeting  at  Ivry  last  night  (he  writes  to  me  on 
20th  January) ;  a  good  deal  of  conversation  at  the  end 
with  the  people.  The  light  is  dawning  on  many. 
I  hope  friends  will  continue  to  pray  for  us."  Speaking 
of  a  children's  meeting,  he  closes  with  these  words, 
"  Noisy  little  vagabonds,  but  bright  and  quick." 

During  the  week  of  prayer  he  took  part  in  a  meet- 
ing at  the  American  Chapel,  and  in  the  course  of  his 
address  dwelt  on  the  beautiful  French  word  for 
"  answer  to  prayer,"  exaucer,  showing  that  it  was  the 
same  word  as  exalt, — to  answer  prayer  is  to  "  lift  up." 
Soon  after  he  had  a  note  from  his  well-beloved 
brother,  Pasteur  Theodor  Monod,  who  was  present,  in 
which  the  following  sentence  occurs, — "A  remarkable 

y 


322        Memoir  of  Rev,  G.  T.  Dodds, 


thing,  that  a  French  pastor  should  go  to  an  English 
meeting  to  speak  in  English,  and  to  be  instructed 
in  French  !  I  never  had  thought  of  the  etymology  of 
exaucer.  It  is  most  interesting.  Littr^  and  Brachet 
entirely  bear  out  your  remarks  on  the  subject, 
making  exaucer  and  exhausser  to  be  the  same  word." 

He  complains  at  this  time  of  the  evil  reports  that 
some,  from  what  motives  he  knew  not,  were  getting 
up  against  the  Mission,  and  carrying  to  London, — 
hindering  sympathies  and  subscriptions.  Pasteur 
Theodor  Monod  speedily  and  effectually  silenced  the 
rumour  in  an  admirably  written  letter  in  defence 
of  the  Mission. 

He  complains,  also,  of  some  English  visitors  who 
got  up  a  "  work  of  revival,"  and  boasted  of  the  large 
number  of  their  converts,  in  disparagement  of  those 
of  the  Mission ;  and  calmly  notes  that  the  present  is 
to  a  large  extent  a  solving  time. 

He  records  (4th  Feb.  1882)  a  striking  conversation 
with  a  man  at  Grenelle, — very  ignorant,  but  into 
whom  the  light  seemed  to  have  broken, — "I  don't  know 
how,"  said  the  poor  man,  "  but  I  am  quite  changed 
from  what  I  was,  and  my  neighbours  say  so  too." 
The  strange  thing  was  that  he  hardly  used  a  single 
religious  or  Bible  word  in  describing  his  change. 
"  Knowing  the  people  well,"  says  Mr.  Dodds,  "  I 
found  in  this  a  very  conclusive  proof  of  the  reality 


Inquiry  Meetings.  323 

of  the  work.  He  was  telling  it  to  me  in  the  language 
of  every-day  life.  When  I  said  that  he  must  imitate 
Christ,  he  answered,  '  Oh  !  I  am  sure  I  can  never  do 
that ;  we  can't  be  perfect.'  This  rejoiced  me  much, 
for  they  are  always  so  perfect  1  I  showed  how  that, 
having  taken  Christ  as  his  Saviour,  he  must  take 
Him  as  his  model.  The  seed  is  beginning  to  spring 
up  everywhere.  People  wish  to  force  it.  Such  is 
not  God's  way.  Oh  !  if  people  would  only  be  content 
to  sow  in  faith.  How  I  feel  very,  very  often  that  we 
are  fighting  to  convince  sinners,  who  are  not  only  '  in 
their  own  sins,'  but  who  are  heavily  visited  with  the 
sins  of  their  forefathers  for  hundreds  of  years.  Ours 
is  a  work  of  undoing  as  well  as  of  doing." 

About  this  time  (Jan.  1882)  his  appetite  began  to 
fail  him.  To  keep  up  his  strength  he  took  strong 
tea,  which  increased  the  evil,  though  it  supplied  a 
temporary  stinmlus.  "  Yesterday,"  says  a  private 
letter,  "  we  dined  as  usual  at  twelve,  and  he  ate  very 
little.  Then  at  four  he  just  swallowed  a  cup  of  tea 
in  a  choking  hurry,  and  went  out, — not  taking  any- 
thing till  he  returned  at  half-past  twelve,  when  he 
took  an  egg  and  a  cup  of  cocoa.  I  don't  know  how 
he  is  to  stand  it." 

This  was  the  beginning  of  his  weakness  and  loss 
of  appetite,  produced  by  overwork  and  irregular 
hours,  which  continued  more  or  less  until  the  end. 


324        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 


He  shut  his  eyes  to  the  evil,  and  persevered  in  his 
work,  reducing  his  system  so  low  that  any  illness  of 
any  kind  might  have  proved  fatal.  This  was  sadly 
imprudent;  but  work  was  now  to  him  a  necessity 
and  a  relief,  though  its  consequences  threatened  to 
be  so  serious,  and  a  collapse  inevitable. 

Interwoven  with  his  constant  reports  of  mission 
success,  I  find  remarks  on  the  social  aspects  of  the 
Kepublic  and  the  political  events  of  the  time.  "  I 
wonder,"  he  writes,  "  if  you  all  realise  in  Edinburgh 
what  a  downfall  Gambetta's  has  been  ?  I  send  you  a 
copy  oi  La  France,  a  paper  which  gained  its  spurs 
at  the  time  of  the  16th  of  May,  when  Emile  Gerardin 
was  editor.  It  is  moderate  and  wise  in  its  view  of 
the  matter,  but  its  language  regarding  Gambetta  is 
strikingly  severe.  He  has  been  found  out; — very 
little  of  a  patriot,  and  a  great  party  man ;  giving 
offices  to  his  friends,  and  creating  posts  to  be  filled 
by  his  creatures." 

He  is  suddenly  called  to  lecture  to  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  in  Paris ;  and  he  asks 
me  to  send  him  ChristlieUs  "  Modern  Doubt  and 
Unbelief";  adding,  "I  have  chosen  'Modern  Doubt' 
as  my  subject,  and  am  anxious  to  systematise  my 
many  scattered  thoughts,  for  I  have  thought  a  good 
deal  on  it."  Then  turning  to  the  work  that  was 
never   out   of  his   thoughts,   he   closes   with,  "We 


specimen  of  Work  in  1881  and  1882.     325 


had  eighty  at  the  Grenelle  prayer  meeting  on  Sunday 
— two  spontaneously  giving  their  testimony  most 
simply,  but  most  impressively." 

I  must,  however,  omit  much  in  the  way  of  corre- 
spondence and  narrative  which  would  have  been  truly 
interesting.  But  it  would  necessarily  involve  some 
repetition,  and  is  besides  unnecessary  to  a  view  of 
his  life  and  work.  I  asked  Mrs.  Dodds  to  give  me  a 
brief  sketch  of  his  movements  and  occupations  at 
this  time, — say  for  a  week, — as  a  specimen  of  the 
whole.  Of  course,  this  was  somewhat  difficult,  as  each 
Aveek  was  varied,  though  there  were  certain  fixed 
points;— the  regular  evening  meetings;  the  Friday 
prayer  meeting;  the  daily  interviews  with  Mr. 
M'All  in  arranging  the  stations.  The  sketch  is  as 
follows : — 

"Late  hours  in  the  morning  were  almost  a  necessity, 
if  rest  was  to  be  had  at  all.  Occasionally  Mr.  Dodds 
was  aroused  first  by  some  messenger  waiting  in  the 
bureau,  some  letter  or  telegram  demanding  an  instant 
answer,  or  perhaps  it  might  be  his  venerable  friend. 
Professor  St.  Hilaire,  patiently  waiting  for  informa- 
tion about  his  new  tracts,  or  a  Bible-woman  or  worker 
needing  guidance,  or  a  beggar,  or,  best  of  all,  a  soul 
in  distress.  Calls  like  these  were  always  occurring, 
and  might  perhaps  take  up  his  whole  time  till  noon. 
If  they  did  not  occur,  then  he  could  count  on  the 


326        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


forenoon  hours  as  his  most  precious  time  for  writ- 
ing new  addresses,  revising  tracts,  writing  articles, 
letters,  or  doing  any  one  of  the  hundred  things  that 
pressed  upon  him.  Except  on  Wednesday,  when  a 
short  prayer  meeting  of  the  evangelists  required  his 
presence  early  at  Mr.  M' All's,  he  rarely  went  out  till 
after  the  noon  dejeuner,  which  was  the  substantial 
meal  of  the  day.  Breakfast  had  been  a  mere  cup  of 
coffee  in  French  fashion ; — the  evening  meal  must 
depend  upon  circumstances;  but  this  was  a  little 
time  of  quiet  with  his  family,  not  broken  in  upon 
unless  by  some  unexpected  interruption.  Im- 
mediately afterwards  mission  business  must  be 
transacted,  at  Mr.  M' All's,  quite  near.  This  might 
take  one,  or  two,  or  three  hours,  according  as  the 
details  brought  up,  varied  in  number  and  perplexity. 
Back  again,  with  a  fresh  budget  of  affairs  and  letters, 
to  sit  at  his  desk  till  summoned  to  tea,  or  until  some 
expected  guest  walked  in, — a  visitor  in  Paris,  perhaps, 
or  a  worker  asked  to  drop  in  and  go  on  with  him  to 
his  meeting.  This  when  at  home.  But  latterly 
his  Tuesday  afternoons  were  spent  at  Versailles, 
— there  a  children's  meeting; — a  pleasant  social 
meal  at  the  house  of  one  or  other  of  his  warmly- 
attached  friends  there; — a  grown-up  people's  meeting ; 
and  a  late,  tired  journey  home,  making  up  the  pro- 
gramme of  that  day.     Thursday  was  a  harder  day. 


specimen  of  Wo7^k  in  1881  and  1882.     327 

His  presence  was  very  often  required  at  one  of  the 
afternoon  schools,  sometimes  at  two  schools  widely 
apart;  and  then  the  hasty  cup  of  cocoa  in  some 
restaurant  had  to  be  substituted  for  the  comfortable 
meal  he  needed  ;  then  on  to  Gare  d'lvry,  where 
perhaps  a  visit  or  two  as  well  as  a  meeting, — and 
after-meeting, — had  to  be  gone  through  before  getting 
home.  Many  remember  him  on  the  Friday  after- 
noons, when  the  prayer  meeting  had  become  a  social 
institution,  held  in  the  Salle  St.  Honore,  and  how 
eagerly,  while  tea  was  handed  round,  he  would  stand 
talking  to  one  after  another,  arranging  little  matters, 
or  gleaning  good  news,  leaving  his  un tasted  cup  till 
it  was  almost  time  to  run  to  Rivoli  or  Les  Ternes,  as 
the  case  might  be.  Thus  three  afternoons  of  the 
week  might  be  reckoned  as  exceptions  to  the  rule ! 

With  evening  the  most  important  part  of  his  work 
only  began.  He  would  come  back  near  midnight  to 
refresh  himself  over  letters  and  papers  which  the 
post  had  brought  from  England ;  or  to  set  to  work 
to  answer  them. 

Saturday  was  often  occupied  socially  or  in  making 
up  arrears  of  letters  and  accounts,  in  visits  to  the 
poor,  or  in  preparing  for  his  Sabbath  work,  which,  to 
the  last,  he  never  ceased  to  regret  having  so  little 
time  for.  One  bit  of  his  preparation  was  unique. 
He  had  procured  from  America  some  lapilinum, — a 


328        Memcir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


thick  black  material  on  which  one  can  draw  as  on  a 
black-board.  He  would  pin  a  square  sheet  of  this 
against  the  wall  of  some  room  and  begin  to  draw,  his 
own  children  looking  on  open-mouthed  and  wondering 
the  while.  With  rapid  touches  he  would  sketch  an 
illustration  for  the  international  lesson  of  that  week ; 
— the  storm  on  the  sea  of  Galilee,  the  sower,  &c., 
getting  the  idea  sometimes  from  a  child's  story-book, 
sometimes  from  a  great  picture,  it  mattered  not. 
One  of  the  last  he  drew  was  an  allegorical  picture  of 
faitli  as  a  lever  moving  a  huge  rock.  This  sheet  he 
would  then  roll  up  and  carry  to  his  different  schools 
throughout  the  week. 

During  the  last  summer,  his  Sabbath  work  was 
always  at  a  maximum.  If  he  had  not  a  pulpit  to 
supply,  he  would  find  a  morning  school  needing  help. 
At  Trocadero  the  general  meeting  was  preceded  by 
a  school.  At  Grenelle,  the  same.  The  after-meeting 
at  the  latter  place  thus  made  the  sixth  in  one  day. 

In  all  this  work  he  was  constantly  liable  to  calls  in 
unforeseen  directions,  —  fetes  or  social  meetings, 
village  expeditions  and  hunts  for  new  halls,  forenoons 
spent  in  the  tract  depots  or  at  the  printers,  public 
meetings  or  committees.  Of  the  Mission  Interieure 
and  the  City  Mission  he  was  a  member.  He  was 
looked  to  in  cases  of  emergency,  not  only  by  the 
Scotch  Church  in  Paris,  but  often  by  the  American 


Sptcimeii  of  Work  in  1881  and  1882.     329 

and  Wesley  an ;  French  churches  also  laid  occasional 
claims  to  him,  and  rarely  did  he  refuse  to  preach  in 
case  of  need.  Visitors  would  arrive  suddenly  from  Eng- 
land or  America,  and  he  would  gladly  put  away  his  work 
for  a  delightful  talk  or  a  stroll  in  the  Bois  de  Boulogne, 
directing  them  or  taking  them  with  him  to  a  meeting. 

The  private  and  individual  claims  on  his  time  were 
many.  Workers  came  to  seek  comfort  and  advice ; 
young  converts  who  wanted  to  put  their  hands  to  the 
plough  and  knew  not  how,  needed  encouragement ; 
ladies  just  come  from  England,  inexperienced,  and 
only  seeing  a  mass  of  work  before  them  which  they 
felt  themselves  unfit  for,  had  to  be  shown  how  to  dis- 
entangle the  mass,  and  steer  through  the  difiiculties. 
Differences  of  opinion  had  to  be  settled,  jarring 
workers  to  be  fitted  to  their  places,  reproofs  not 
seldom  to  be  administered. 

Many  scenes  I  remember,  some  touching,  some 
amusing.  And  I  should  do  wrong  if  I  forgot  to  say 
that  the  spirit  of  fun  which  sometimes  showed  itself 
among  the  workers  was  a  great  help  towards  bearing 
the  strain.  No  ludicrous  incident  failed  to  produce 
its  effect.  One  day  it  is  a  man  begging,  with  a  line 
purporting  to  be  from  M.  Paul  Bert  (the  minister) 
recommending  him  to  Mr.  Dodds'  charity  !  Another 
day  it  is  some  rich  story  with  which  Mr.  M'All  has 
relieved  the  dryness  of  business.     Those  who  go  out 


330        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


of  their  way  to  seek  laughter  do  not  know  what  it  is. 
Schoolboys  and  people  at  earnest  work  know  it  in  its 
genuine  brightness  and  freshness. 

A  young  worker  comes  to  complain  that  his  school 
is  dwindling.  He  may  have  to  be  told  that  his 
own  unpunctuality  is  killing  it.  No  easy  matter, 
but  it  must  be  done.  Or  a  speaker  must  be  told 
that  his  addresses  are  too  long,  and  that  the  people 
go  out.  Or  a  third  must  be  told  that  he  has  been 
"  making  controversy,"  religious  or  political,  in  the 
meetings.  But  nothing  roused  his  indignation  so 
much  as  hearing  a  speaker  run  on  for  an  hour  simply 
amusing  the  people,  and  giving  them  no  Gospel. 
This  he  could  not  endure.  It  was  his  nature  to 
speak  strongly,  even  sternly,  in  cases  like  these.  He 
knew  it,  and  watched  against  himself  in  this.  When 
the  matter  was  very  serious,  a  letter  would  be  written, 
sometimes  only  after  much  prayer  and  deliberation. 
Or  a  quiet  walk  home  from  some  meeting  would 
give  him  the  desired  opportunity.  Often  his  counsel 
was  received  gratefully.  In  one  amusing  case  it  was 
not  strong  enough  to  be  understood.  The  rule  "  no 
politics "  had  been  so  flagrantly  transgressed  that 
Mr.  Dodds  was  commissioned  to  write  to  the  offender, 
pointing  out  what  had  been  done.  This  he  did  in  a 
long,  courteous,^  and  very  clear  letter.  He  feared 
only  to  have  spoken  too  strongly.     He  received  an 


specimen  of  Work  in  1881  and  1882.     331 

equally  courteous  answer,  in  which  the  writer  per- 
fectly  concurred  in  his  opinion,  thought  it  a  thing 
much  to  be  deprecated  that  pohtics  should  be  intro- 
duced in  these  meetings,  and  wondered  only  who 
could  have  been  so  indiscreet  as  to  do  such  a  thing  ! 

I  remember  a  lady  coming  in  despair  about  a 
school  which  seemed  utterly  unmanageable, — coaxing 
and  turning  out  being  equally  ineffectual,  —  the 
teachers  not  quite  agreed,  and  a  little  disposed  to 
blame  each  other's  method  for  the  unsatisfactory 
results.  How  he  cheered  her,  and  kindly  urged  her 
not  to  give  up, — not  grudging  the  spending  of  his 
precious  time,  and  at  length  sending  her  away  with 
the  promise  that  he  would  look  in  himself ! 

Another  young  worker  will  never  forget  his  loving 
advice  and  direction,  his  way  of  setting  her  to  work 
in  the  most  needy  places,  and  telling  her  how  to  set 
about  it.  Nor  will  she  forget  the  prayer  in  his 
drawing-room  the  day  she  left,  nor  the  promise  he 
exacted  from  her  not  to  desert  France,  but  to  return 
if  the  Lord  permitted.* 

In  April  he  visited  Scotland  in  behalf  of  the  Mission. 
But  his  stay  was  short.  There  are  no  incidents  in 
this  tour  of  sufficient  importance  to  be  recorded. 
He  would  not  admit  that  he  was  feeble.     He  felt 

*  He  seldom  allowed  friends  to  leave  the  house  without  a  few 
minutes  of  social  prayer. 


Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


well ;  and  he  went  about  his  varied  work  as  usual, 
enjoying,  as  he  always  did,  the  society  of  friends.*  He 
did  not  reckon  upon  that  visit  being  his  last,  and 
that,  in  leaving  Scotland,  he  was  bidding  it  a  final 
farewell.  Of  the  mission  he  was  most  hopeful,  and 
regarding  himself  he  had  no  desponding  thoughts. 
He  would  not  admit  that  he  was  losing  strength,  or 
that  he  ought  to  spare  himself  The  prospects  of 
mission  expansion  were  bright;  and  the  encourage- 
ment he  met  with  in  Scotland  cheered  him  on. 
He  was  specially  cheered  by  the  arrangements  he 
was  able  to  make  with  Mr.  Moody  for  a  visit  to 
Paris  in  the  course  of  the  autumn.  The  "day-spring 
from  on  high  "  seemed  to  be  visiting  France ;  and  he 
looked  forward  to  years  of  happy  and  earnest  work. 
For  his  youth  was  still  upon  him,  and,  though  he 
often  felt  weariness,  he  did  not  believe  in  exhaustion. 
He  thought  himself  able  for  all  he  had  undertaken, 
and  did  not  think  it  possible  that  his  strength  could 
give  way ;  though  often  at  night,  on  returning  home, 
he  would  say,  "  I'm  tired,  I'm  so  tired." 

*  His  visit  to  Locbee  was  saddened  by  the  failing  health  of  his 
mother.  For  some  time  past  each  visit  had  seemed  a  farewell.  He 
did  not  think  that  he  was  to  go  first.  But  mother  and  son  were  not 
to  be  separated  long. 


CHAPTER   X. 

THE    LAST    FOUR    MONTHS — SUMMER     WORK — PLANS 
FOR  REST — BUISSON  LUZAS — ILLNESS— DEATH. 

IN  May,  1882, 1  went  to  Paris,  and  spent  three 
weeks  witli  him.  I  found  him  in  the  midst 
of  his  accustomed  work,  with  the  prospect  of 
an  unusually  busy  summer,  but  looking  forward  to 
a  time  of  rest  in  autumn. 

I  saw  that  he  needed  it  sorely;  for  he  was  thin,  and 
not  altogether  like  his  former  self ;  jaded  and  harassed, 
as  if  his  strength  had  been  overstrained,  and  his 
placidity  taxed  to  the  uttermost.  His  appetite  was 
giving  way,  his  headaches  frequent,  and  his  general 
health  by  no  means  vigorous.  He  was  frequently 
very  late  at  meetings,  and  yet,  after  returning  from 
these  at  midnight  or  later,  he  would  set  himself  to 
make  up  arrears  of  correspondence,  it  might  be  in 
French  or  it  might  be  in  English.  Sometimes  he 
tried  to  keep  himself  awake  by  strong  tea,  and,  then 
when  sleep  overpowered  him,  he  threw  himself  down 

333 


334        Memoir  of  Rev,  G,  T.  Dodds. 

upon  his  bed  or  sofa  without  undressing,  that  he 
might,  after  snatching  a  short  sleep,  get  up  and 
resume  his  writing. 

His  system  was  enfeebled,  and  the  night's  sleep 
was  insufficient  for  re-invigoration.  He  needed  not 
one  month's  but  six  months'  rest.  Yet  he  would 
not  believe  it,  and  was  not  a  little  annoyed  when 
entreated  to  spare  himself.  The  machinery  could 
not  stand  still,  the  mission-work  could  not  take  holi- 
day. If  he  did  not  work,  others  must.  Daily  arrange- 
ments must  be  made,  and  these  were  often  difficult 
and  complicated,  needing  both  skill  and  patience. 
Letters  must  be  received  and  written,  tracts,  books, 
and  Bibles  distributed,  visitors  received,  meetings 
held,  addresses  written  ; — most  congenial  work, — not 
a  task  nor  a  weariness,  and  perhaps  not  too  much  for 
him,  had  he  retained  the  elasticity  of  1877. 

About  this  time  he  wrote  to  his  brother  regarding 
the  unhealthy  air  of  one  of  his  stations  :  "  I  got  your 
letter  on  Monday  evening,  lying  on  my  bed  with  a 
very  bad  headache.  In  one  of  our  halls  there  is  an 
"  egout"  (sewer).  I  stood  there  for  nearly  two  hours 
on  Sunday  evening  with  my  head  on  a  level  with 
the  gas-jets.  A  man  gets  rather  poisoned,  and  it 's  a 
wonder  that  some  of  us  are  not  worse  than  we  are  ! 
I  'm  all  right  now,  but  was  really  poisoned  for  a  day." 

But  that  elasticity  was  gone ;  whether  it  would 


The  Last  Four  Months.  335 

return  was  doubtful.  At  any  rate  the  extent  of  the 
evil  was  not  realised,  and  he  could  not  see  his  way  to 
more  than  a  month's  cessation  from  labour.  But 
what  would  a  month  do  for  him ;  or  how  could  he 
hope  that  such  prostration  would  be  removed  by  an 
ordinary  season  of  retirement  ?  The  repose  he 
needed  he  would  not  take,  nor  indeed  would  he 
believe  to  be  necessary.  "Wait  till  this  pressure 
is  past,"  he  would  say  when  asked  when  he  would 
rest.  But  the  pressure  did  not  pass  nor  diminish  : 
and  the  increasing  rush  of  work  hurried  him  on  from 
day  to  day. 

I  dreaded  a  collapse  in  some  way  and  a  blow  in 
some  quarter,  but  I  did  not  anticipate  the  sorrow 
that  was  so  near  at  hand. 

His  daily  forenoon  conferences  with  Mr.  M'All 
about  mission  arrangements  were  pleasant  and 
refreshing,  though  he  might  come  away  with  his 
hands  full  of  letters  and  his  head  full  of  business, 
perhaps  vexation. 

I  said  to  him  one  day,  when  visitors,  letters,  tele- 
grams kept  pouring  in  without  ceasing,  "Is  there 
not  a  want  of  repose  about  the  work  here  ? " 

He  admitted  it  in  part,  but  asked  how  the  evil 
was  to  be  remedied.  The  work  is  of  such  a  nature, 
and  spread  over  so  wide  an  area,  with  so  many 
workers,   involving    so   much    superintendence    and 


^^6        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds, 

arrangement,  that  constant  motion  is  inevitable,  and 
for  any  of  those  who  have  the  direction  of  the  work 
to  fold  their  hands,  even  for  a  short  time,  might 
involve  the  derangement  of  the  whole  machinery. 

Of  course  the  only  permanent  remedy  was  the 
increase  of  labourers ;  and  where  were  they  to  come 
from?  To  curtail  the  work  itself  was  not  to  be 
thought  of. 

The  present  staff  was  over- wrought,  and  an  over- 
wrought workman  must  turn  out  imperfect  work. 
Words  come  feebly  from  over-wearied  lips,  and  our 
power  of  stating  truth  depends  not  only  on  our 
spiritual  health,  but  on  our  bodily  vigour  and  elasti- 
city. Rowland  Hill  used  playfully  to  give  as  a 
receipt  for  making  a  long-lived  minister,  "preach 
every  day  of  the  week  and  three  times  on  Sunday ; " 
but  he  (good  man  !)  had  the  whole  of  each  day  for 
rest,  and  a  man,  who  has  such  a  daily  rest,  may 
easily  preach  every  night.  In  Paris, — especially 
with  those  at  the  head  of  the  Mission, — there  could 
be  no  such  rest.  All  day  long,  in  some  form  or 
other,  the  work  was  going  on ;  and  each  night 
brought  with  it  the  crowded  meeting,  sometimes  two 
miles  off,  sometimes  six,  sometimes,  as  at  Versailles, 
twelve.  The  meeting  itself  was  calm  and  soothing 
but  the  journey  and  the  preaching,  and  the  late 
hours,  and  the  earnest  conversation  with  the  people 


Suni7ner  Work.  2)Z1 

at  the  close  of  each  service  combined  to  make  the 
fatigue  great.  Even  Rowland  Hill  would  have  suc- 
cumbed to  it ;  and  had  he  known  the  French  work,  he 
might  have  modified  his  "receipt  for  a  long  lived 
minister." 

In  the  case  of  the  Paris  Mission,  the  temptations 
to  extension  were  many.  The  invitations  poured  in 
on  all  sides,  and  with  great  urgency.  But  expansion 
without  consolidation  would  be  full  of  danger  to  the 
whole  enterprise.  Extension,  with  inferior  workers 
and  half-educated  evangelists,  to  whom  not  only 
theology  but  the  Bible  itself  was  a  new  thing, 
would  be  the  introduction  of  superficial  teaching 
and  a  questionable  Gospel,  resulting  in  imperfect 
conversions  and  the  production  of  stony  -  ground 
hearers.  To  run  before  God,  or  without  being  sent, 
— to  carry  on  the  work  with  self- manufactured 
labourers,  instead  of  waiting  on  the  Lord  of  the 
harvest  for  first-class  reapers, — would  be  as  unscrip- 
tural  as  unwise. 

We  had  frequent  conversations  on  one  very 
important  point  connected  with  the  permanent  use- 
fulness of  the  Mission, — I  mean  the  religious  instruc- 
tion of  the  young.  The  schools,  under  the  efficient 
superintendence  of  Mr.  Greig,  are  doing  much  for  the 
three  or  four  thousand  children  whom  the  Mission 

has  gathered  in.      The  hymns,  also,  which  they  sing 

z 


;^^S        Alemoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

so  heartily,  and  which  they  carry  to  their  various 
homes  throughout  the  city,  are  doing  a  mighty  work, 
far  beyond  the  circle  of  the  little  ones  who  chant  them 
indoors  and  outdoors,  on  the  streets,  in  the  lanes,  and 
on  the  stairs.  The  texts,  too,  which  they  read  upon 
the  walls  so  splendidly  blazoned,  or  carry  with  them 
as  rewards  for  proficiency  and  attendance,  are  sowiog 
seed  for  eternity  in  a  thousand  places  and  hearts. 
Above  all,  the  Bibles,  the  Testaments,  the  penny 
portions  both  of  gospel  and  epistle,  are  working  with 
a  power  which  promises  all  permanence. 

But  what  we  considered  specially  needful  for  the 
young  was  some  Catechism,  simple  and  sound,  com- 
prehensive and  intelligible,  which  would  lay  hold  of 
their  memories,  and  be  a  life-time's  store  of  heavenly 
wisdom.  Whatever  some  theological  theorists  have 
argued  as  to  such  manuals,  they  are  of  vast  import- 
ance, especially  in  the  consolidation  of  such  a  work  as 
that  of  the  Paris  Mission.  Sooner  or  later  this  matter 
will  have  to  be  taken  up.  The  sooner  the  better. 
Selected  questions  from  Calvin's  Catechism,  which 
was  once  well  known  in  France,  and  which  did  such 
good  service  in  Huguenot  days,  could  be  easily  knit 
together,  and  put  into  the  hands  of  the  French 
children.  The  hymn  and  the  catechism  should  go 
together. 

A  creedless  mission,  though  suited  to  the  theory  of 


Summer  Work.  339 

*'  advanced  thought,"  whose  "  evangelism  "  insists  on 
being  untrammelled  by  definite  beliefs,  would  really 
be  to  France  no  mission  at  all.  It  might  satisfy  the 
ideal  of  the  free-thinking  philanthropist,  in  whose 
eyes  a  fixed  faith  finds  no  favour ;  but  it  would  not 
be  a  Christian  enterprise, — hardly  a  benevolent  one ; 
and  whether  worth  the  inevitable  toil,  might  be 
questionable.  It  might  be  scientific ;  it  would  not  be 
apostolic.  It  might  help  to  smooth  the  broad  way 
for  the  poor  ouvrier ;  but  it  would  not  lead  him  into 
the  narrow  one.  As  civilised  heathenism  is  the 
tiltimatum  of  the  missionary  philosopher,  so  polished 
ouvrierism  is  the  heau-ideal  of  the  missionary 
aesthetic  in  France.  The  cross,  with  its  inflexible  and 
unaccommodating  dogmas,  is  rather  out  of  place  in 
any  scheme,  the  object  of  which  is  to  work  by  means 
of  religious  colourlessness. 

Another  subject  of  conversation  between  us  was  as 
to  suitable  ti^ads  for  France.  It  is  not  easy  to  write 
a  good,  readable,  and  interesting  tract.  Many  of  our 
own  English  tracts  fifty  years  ago  were  bald  and 
uninteresting  in  the  extreme,  as  well  as  badly  written. 
The  last  thirty  years  have  seen  a  wonderful  change 
in  this  respect.  A  tract  should  be  a  careful  literary 
composition,  as  well  as  a  clear  statement  of  Divine 
truth.  So  with  regard  to  France.  The  tract  must 
be  written  for  the  nation,  by  one  who  knows  it.     It 


340        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds. 

must  suit  the  tastes  and  peculiarities,  or,  it  may  be, 
the  weaknesses  of  the  people. 

His  correspondence  upon  the  subject  of  tract  dis- 
tribution was  very  wide.  He  wrote  to  all  who  could 
help  in  the  preparation  of  French  tracts ;  and  he  was 
written  to  by  many  who  were  interested  in  this 
important  matter.  One  of  the  latter  was  Mr.  Cheyne 
Brady,  who  writes  to  me  as  follows  :  "  It  has  occurred 
to  me  that  it  would  be  of  interest  to  you  to  have  the 
enclosed  letters  of  your  lamented  son-in-law.  How 
devoted  he  was  to  his  Master's  '  work ' !  Even  his 
vacation  was  allocated  to  the  service  of  the  Lord. 
Nothing  seems  so  inscrutable  as  the  removal  of  such 
labourers.  But  the  time  will  come  when  all  will  be 
made  plain,  even  as  already  to  the  submissive  heart 
all  God's  dealings  are  wise,  and  good,  and  kind." 

The  letters  which  he  encloses  are  as  follow.  They 
show  his  ideas  of  what  such  tracts  should  be.  In 
oLher  letters  to  myself  he  dwells  on  this  at  greater 
length.  His  desire  was  that  they  should  be 
thoroughly  "  the  messengers  of  peace,"  or  rather, 
I  should  say,  of  the  peace,  containing  no  indirect  or 
circuitous  gospel,  with  a  vague  evangelical  sound, 
which  leaves  the  sinner's  conscience  as  far  from  the 
cross  as  ever.  What  he  wanted  was  the  clear 
statement  of  what  liad  been  done  for  the  sinner 
by  the  Son  of  God  upon  the  cross.     The  completeness 


Sit7n7ner  Work.  341 

of  that  work  is  not  by  any  means  an  intelligible  or  a 
credible  thing  to  one  who  has  been  steeped  in  Popery, 
and  taught  that  his  acceptance  with  God  is  to  turn 
upon  what  he  himself  is  able  to  do,  and  upon  the  way 
in  which  he  performs  this  doing  of  his;  that  his 
religious  performances  are  to  be  his  recommendations 
to  God.  It  seems  incredible  that  a  man  should  owe 
everything  to  the  merit  of  another,  even  though  that 
other  should  be  the  Son  of  God ;  and  it  seems  un- 
reasonable, or  rather  incomprehensible,  that  another's 
life  and  another's  death  should  be  so  completely  sub- 
stituted for  our  own  that  God  should  regard  that  life 
as  if  we  had  lived  it,  and  that  death  as  if  we  had  died 
it.  Hence  the  necessity  for  reiterating  and  illustrat- 
ing and  simplifying  the  Gospel  of  the  Substitute.  Mr. 
Dodds  felt  this.  Frequently  in  conversation  with 
myself  he  dwelt  upon  this;  and  in  his  addresses 
enforced  it.     He  thus  writes  to  Mr.  C.  Brady : — 

"  Paris,  U  25  Juilht,  1882. 
"  Dear  Sir,— I  thank  you  for  your  letter  of  the  20tli  July 
and  for  your  kind  interest  in  the  work  of  evangelisation  in 
France  by  means  of  tract  distribution,  and  also  for  your  gener- 
ous offer  to  aid  in  printing  translations  of  your  tracts.  I 
hope  to  be  able  to  reply  more  fully  at  some  future  time.  Mean- 
while, let  me  say  that  M.  St.-Hilaire,  who  is  superintending 
this  work  along  with  me  for  the  Eeligious  Tract  Society  in 
London,  is  absent  from  Paris,  and  nothing  can  be  done  until 
his  return  in  October.  Further,  we  have  just  issued  fifteen 
new  tracts,  and  there  are  others  almost  ready  to  be  issued  ; 


342        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

and  some  time  must  elapse  ere  we  finisli  those  on  which  we 
are  engaged,  and  begin  to  translate  others.  But  we  are  very 
glad  to  have  yours ;  indeed,  I  ordered  them  lately  from 
London.  I  have  often  wished  to  write  to  you  and  say  how 
useful  we  have  found  your  little  book  on  the  Second  Coming. 
Many  of  the  workers  in  our  Mission  cherish  this  blessed  hope, 
and  find  it  a  very  great — indeed,  ilie  great  i^resent — motive  to 
work  for  Christ.  One  of  our  Bible-women  distributed  a  large 
number  in  her  district,  and  told  me  that  there  was  much 
interest  excited  in  it,  and  that  the  people  asked  for  copies, 
having  heard  of  it,  I  suiDpose,  from  their  neighbours.  One 
thing,  let  me  ask  you.  Have  you  any  objection  to  selected 
passages  being  taken  from  your  tracts  1  We  are  more  in  need 
of  tracts  of  four  j^ages  than  of  any  other  kind  just  now. 
Tracts  need  to  be  considerably  shorter  to  suit  the  French. 
There  is  a  very  great  ignorance  of  the  Bible,  and  a  lack  of  any 
deep  religious  feeling,  and  a  terrible  absence  of  conscience* 
.  .  .  When  the  autumn  is  over  and  the  winter  fairly  begun, 
I  shall  hope  to  let  you  know  of  some  steps  which  we  shall  have 
taken  for  translation." 

The  autumn  came,  but  it  brought  no  relaxation, 
no  time  for  revision  or  translation.  That  July  had 
been  a  very  busy  one.  August  was,  if  possible,  yet 
more  busy.  The  Paris  work  was  heavy,  and  the 
correspondence  quite  oppressive.  Another  letter  to 
Mr.  Brady  regarding  the  tracts  we  give.  It  possesses 
a  melancholy  interest,  as  anticipating  a  month's  rest, 
and,  along  with  that,  some  quiet  work  of  tract  revi- 
sion, which  he  was  not  to  be  permitted  to  do. 

"Paris,  U  l()  AoUt,  1882. 
"Dear  Sir, — I  thank  you  for  your  letter   regarding  the 


Plans  for  Rest.  343 

tracts.  I  am  about  to  leave  Paris  for  tlie  country  for  a  month, 
and  intend  taking  four  tracts  along  with  me,  when  I  shall 
have  leisure  to  examine  them  and  report  to  you.  I  entirely 
agree  with  you  regarding  Scripture  in  the  tracts,  and  you  may 
be  sure  that  in  that  direction  yours  will  remain  intact.  But 
after  most  attentive  study  of  tract  distribution  in  France,  and 
continued  personal  experience,  I  am  convinced  that  the  reason 
why  the  tracts  do  not  suit  the  people  is  that  they  are  too  long 
and  too  little  evangelical.  Life  and  graphic7iess  are  much 
needed.  For  instance,  the  tract  known  in  English  as  '  Mr?. 
Burton's  Best  Bedroom'  has  been  greatly  appreciated  here. 
I  know  a  man,  very  ignorant  and  yet  very  attentive  when  he 
came  to  our  meetings,  with  whom  I  have  had  many  a  serious 
conversation,  who  had  the  two  texts — '  Thou  God  seest  me,' 
and  '  God  is  love ' — fixed  in  his  mind,  and  understood  as 
never  before.  I  am  very  glad  and  very  thankful  that  you 
offer  so  much  help  in  the  publication  of  the  tracts.  I  hope 
that  in  the  autumn  I  shall  be  able  to  tell  you  what  we  are 
going  to  do." 

This  autumn  recess  was  what  he  eagerly  looked 
forward  to,  not  so  much  for  the  quiet  refreshment  it 
afforded,  as  for  its  opportunities  of  preparing  for 
winter- work,  especially  in  getting  tracts  ready.  For 
he  could  not  be  idle,  and  his  holidays  were  in  reality 
only  change  of  work. 

But  the  expected  quiet  never  came,  as  we  shall 
see.  The  tract  translation  and  revision  were  to 
pass  into  other  hands.  The  London  Tract  Society, 
however,  will  not  let  the  matter  drop.  The  series  of 
tracts  projected  by  Mr.  Dodds  will  not  be  lost  sight 


344        Memoir  of  Rev,  G.  T.  Dodds, 

of.  There  is  a  hunger  for  such  literature  all  over 
France,  and  it  must  be  satisfied.  There  are  first- 
rate  men  among  those  connected  with  the  Mission 
who  will  throw  their  hearts  into  the  enterprise. 

He  was  at  this  time  entertaining  the  proposal  of 
revisiting  America  in  behalf  of  the  Mission.  His 
Transatlantic  friends  had  become  many,  so  greatly 
had  he  commended  himself  to  them  during  his 
former  visit.  Their  invitations  to  him  were  now 
renewed  with  great  urgency.  He  had  enjoyed  his 
former  tour  much ;  and  he  was  pleased  with  the 
prospect  of  another.  American  kindness  and  hospi- 
tality had  won  his  heart ;  and  American  Christianity 
had  attracted  him.  He  was  bent  on  a  second  inva- 
sion of  the  great  western  continent,  and  was  planning 
a  much  wider  circuit  than  formerly.  He  was 
resolved  to  rouse  the  Churches  of  the  West  in  behalf 
of  France.  He  had  somewhat  succeeded  already; 
but  he  was  satisfied  that  much  more  could  be  done, 
and  that  this  would  be  a  great  blessing  to  the 
Churches  themselves.  He  had  experienced  their 
warm-heartedness  and  their  open-handedness  in  a 
measure  ;  and  he  was  bent  on  making  an  overwhelm- 
ing appeal  to  them  in  the  name  of  his  adopted  nation, 
in  behalf  of  the  forty  millions  of  France.  America 
he  thought,  must  come  to  the  rescue,  and  that  without 
delay.     She  must  ally  herself  with  her  mother-nation 


Sumfner  Work,  345 

in  seeking  the  spiritual  emancipation  of  the  Euro- 
pean continent.  The  two  great  Protestant  nations  of 
the  world  must  go  hand-in-hand  in  the  circulation  of 
the  Book  of  God,  and  the  proclamation  of  His  Gospel. 
British  and  American  pleasure-seekers  pour  into 
Paris  all  the  year  round,  and  depart,  leaving  no 
blessing  behind.  They  spend  their  tens  of  thousands 
of  pounds  in  self-gratification,  and  their  only  reflec- 
tion afterwards, — if  they  ever  reflect  at  all, — is  that 
they  have  enriched  the  hotel-keepers,  and  left  behind 
them  abundance  of  English  and  American  gold.  Yet 
surely  the  Christian  people  of  these  nations  have 
something  better  to  give  France  than  gold,  and  some- 
thing higher  to  receive  from  it  than  earthly  pleasure. 
We  were  at  one  upon  these  points,  and  concurred 
in  projecting  a  fresh  appeal  to  the  Western  Churches. 
But  was  Mr.  Dodds'  strength  at  present  equal  to  the 
undertaking,  for  it  would  entail  enormous  labour  if 
it  was  to  be  done  thoroughly  ?  He  spoke  of  next 
spring  (1883),  but  I  urged  delay,  and,  in  the  mean- 
time, a  partial  cessation  of  his  mission-work.  He 
was,  however,  immovable.  The  voyage,  he  thought, 
would  benefit  him,  the  travelling  would  be  such  a 
complete  change  as  would  amount  to  rest,  and  the 
intercourse  with  Christian  brethren  would  quite 
refresh  and  recruit  him.  God,  however,  took  this 
scheme  into  His  own  hands,  and,  calling  His  servant 


346        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds. 

away,  sent  a  message  by  his  death  to  the  Churches 
more  solemn  and  stirring  than  his  living  presence 
among  them  could  have  delivered. 

During  these  summer  months  the  work  moved  on 
as  usual,  the  interest  increasing  and  the  blessing 
largely  multiplied.  But  he  was  working  upon 
borrowed  strength;  the  heavy  strain  was  telling 
upon  him.  Only  three  times  during  my  stay  did 
I  succeed  in  drawing  him  out  for  a  few  hours'  recrea- 
tion,— once  to  spend  an  afternoon  at  Versailles,  again 
for  a  sail  down  the  Seine  to  St.  Cloud,  and  again  for 
an  evening's  walk  in  the  Passy  avenue.  He  felt  the 
unrest,  but  it  seemed  as  if  his  only  way  of  relief  was 
to  work  the  more.  But  the  wear  and  tear  of  daily 
work  could  not  go  on  without  injury,  and  the  con- 
tinuous and  unwise  expenditure  of  strength  could  not 
last.  He  thought  himself  well  though  weary,  and 
shut  his  eyes  to  the  necessary  enfeeblement  of  his 
system.  Thus  he  writes  to  his  brother  on  26th  July, 
1882  :— 

"  You  say  you  suppose  I  am  very  busy  and  fagged ;  well, 
very  busy  indeed,  but  very  well.  We  never  had  sucli  en- 
couragement in  our  work  as  we  have  had  this  winter  and 
spring.  The  meetings  have  not  only  been  very  well  attended, 
but  many  have  remarked  a  spirit  of  seriousness  and  anxiety 
which  was  never  so  visible  before.  I  wonder  if,  after  all,  the 
Frenchman  is  so  superficial  ?  He  has  religious  needs,  and  is 
not  yet  given  over  to  atheism.     What  brings  people  night 


Szimmer  Work.  347 

after  night  to  hear  the  same  Gospel  over  and  over  again, 
sometimes  not  very  attractively  preached]  People  at  home 
don't  come  out  as  well  to  prayer  meetings,  and  here,  just  now, 
in  this  hot  weather,  the  people  will  remain  in  considerable 
numbers  for  prayer  and  conversation." 

The  last  walk  I  had  with  him  was  on  a  bright 
June  evening,  Tuesday,  the  28th,  I  think  it  was. 
He  had  secured  supply  for  his  Versailles  meeting  in 
order  that  we  might  spend  a  few  hours  together,  as 
I  was  leaving  Paris  for  London  next  morning.  We  set 
off  for  the  Passy  woods  adjoining  Auteuil.  They  are 
studded  with  villas  of  very  various  construction  and 
size,  finely  ornamented  with  shrubberies  and  gardens. 
The  broad  avenue  which  intersects  the  park  opens  up 
villa  after  villa  as  you  pass  along,  while  the  shade  of 
the  trees  on  each  side  makes  the  bright  sunshine  not 
only  bearable,  but  most  pleasant.  We  soon  reached 
the  ramparts,  and,  sitting  down  on  the  slope  of  the 
sward,  we  enjoyed  the  view,  and  for  upwards  of  two 
hours  conversed  on  the  topics  of  the  day;  on  the 
questions  said  to  be  "in  the  air";  on  the  progress  of  the 
work  in  Paris ;  on  the  state  of  our  colleges  at  home ; 
and  the  prospect  of  securing  labourers  for  the  great 
French  field  that  was  everywhere  calling  for  reapers. 
The  walk  was  just  such  as  he  needed  for  the  refresh- 
ment both  of  body  and  spirit;  and  we  enjoyed  it 
fully,  though  we  little  thought  it  was  to  be  our  last. 


34^        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.   T.  Dodds. 

During  these  two  bright  hours  he  was  quite  himself 
agfain.  Weariness  had  fled,  and  the  fresh  air  had 
revived  him.  Slowly  sauntering  up  and  down  among 
the  trees  and  then  back  again  to  Auteuil,  we  must 
have  passed  within  little  more  than  a  mile  of  the 
cemetery  where,  two  months  after,  he  was  to  be  laid, 
though  we  knew  it  not.  It  did  not  occur  to  either 
of  us  to  visit  that  burying-ground,  as  naturally  one 
visits  a  beautiful  cemetery.  I  have  often  wondered 
since  why  we  did  not ;  he  did  not  mention  it,  and  I 
did  not  know  there  was  a  cemetery  in  that  direction. 
There  is  something  to  me  peaceful  as  well  as  sad  in  the 
thought  that  our  last  walk  should  have  been  through 
that  Passy  avenue  in  that  calm  twilight.  I  only  wish 
I  could  recall  our  conversation.  It  was  free  and  cheer- 
ful ;  and  I  thought  that  if  he  could  only  be  persuaded 
to  take  many  such  walks,  he  might  throw  off  his 
weariness  and  recover  his  natural  strength. 

After  our  walk  that  night  he  set  to  his  work,  for 
letters  were  awaiting  him.  How  soon  he  got  to  bed 
I  do  not  know ;  but  we  had  all  to  be  astir  next 
morning  between  seven  and  eight,  as  I  was  to  set 
off  for  London,  and  the  distance  between  Auteuil 
and  the  Gare  du  Nord  is  about  six  miles,  at  the 
opposite  end  of  the  city. 

Next  morning  we  started, — he  and  Mrs.  Dodds  and 
myself  reaching  the  station  in  ample  time.     It  was 


Sttnwter  Work.  349 

a  dull  morning,  and  the  station,  though  large,  is 
gloomy.  We  sat  down  together  on  the  only  seat 
which  we  could  get,  in  a  dark  corner;  and  after 
some  quiet  conversation  we  rose,  and  I  bade  him 
farewell ;  he  returning  to  his  work,  I  going  off  to 
Calais.  We  saw  each  other  no  more,  though  no 
thought  of  the  coming  sadness  entered  into  our 
farewell. 

During  July  and  August  he  continued  his  work, 
looking  forward  to  September  for  rest.  I  am  told 
that  his  labours  during  these  two  months  were 
remarkably  blest, — crowded  meetings,  eager  inquirers, 
striking  cases  of  men  passing  out  of  darkness  into 
light.  Never  had  he  seemed  so  earnest.  Never 
had  he  found  such  decided  and  abundant  success. 
There  was  something  more  than  mere  attention  and 
interest.  Quickening  power  was  accompanjdng  the 
Word. 

On  the  17th  of  July  he  writes  to  me  :  "  The  fete 
has  thinned  our  meetings ;  but  we  had  nevertheless 
a  very  good  and  encouraging  meeting  at  Grenelle 
last  night." 

In  the  midst  of  meetings  and  visitings  he  carries 
on  the  Quarterly  Record,  which  he  had  edited  for 
three  years ;  and  thus  he  refers  to  it  in  the  above 
letter  :  "  All  my  MS.  has  gone  for  the  Quarterly.  I 
have  asked  the  printers  to  send  them  out  to  you, 


350        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

and  I  write  to  ask  you  to  write  a  prefatory  note,  or 
rather  an  appeal.  You  will  see  how  deeply  real  the 
work  is  just  now,  from  the  letter  in  this  number, 
and  you  might  emphasise  this  from  what  you  heard 
when  here.  Does  '  the  eye  of  a  needle '  mean  a 
door,  or  is  it  a  figurative  expression  ?  Were  the 
doors  beside  the  great  gates  called  needle's  eyes  ? 
I  drew  one  with  a  camel  laden  before  it  for  the 
children.  The  merchandise  was  riches,  and  riches 
were  anything  that  one  possessed  in  abundance  or 
which  made  one  selfish.  They  understood  thereby 
the  story  of  the  rich  young  man  very  well.  Yester- 
day I  drew  the  pilgrim  passing  through  the  river. 
The  children  (some  of  them  at  least)  thought  that 
the  pilgrim  was  a  pominer  or  fireman,  as  I  had 
unfortunately  given  him  a  helmet  like  that  which 
is  worn  by  the  firemen  of  Paris.  I  must  stop  to 
catch  post.  We  are  all  well.  Benedictus  benedicatur 
in  soecida  sceculorum" 

On  the  28th  of  July  he  thus  wrote  to  me  regard- 
ing his  work  and  his  plans  for  it,  referring  at  the 
same  time  to  his   prospect  of  going   into   country 

quarters : — 

"  20  Juillet,  1882. 

"  Perhaps  you  know  that  we  are  going  to  Buisson  Luzas, 

near  Salbris.     Yon  will  probably  find  that  near  the  town 

of   Bourges    or  St.    Martin    d'Aiixigny,    in    Loir    et    Cher. 

The    Rev.   Francis    Cannan,   Chaplain  to  the    Forces,    has 


Summer  Work,  351 

a  house  there,  and  has  most  kindly  offered  it  for  Septem- 
ber. I  believe  that  there  is  plenty  of  room,  and  that  the 
country  is  delightful.  I  shall  get  a  month,  but  no  more, 
for  I  must  be  back  in  time  for  Moody,  who  comes  on  the  8th.  It 
will  be  a  task  to  organise  his  campaign.  If  good  Mr.  Kelman  will 
come  over  and  help,  that  will  be  welcome.  There  is  no  great 
heat  this  month  of  July, — rain  very  often, — evenings  and  days 
sometimes  very  sultry.  Eivoli,  spite  of  heat,  was  crammed  on 
Wednesday  evening.  We  had  a  Societe  Fraternelh  meeting 
afterwards.  About  fifty  stayed.  We  took  Bartimseus.  I  had 
written  on  the  black-board  : — 

Bartime^. 

La  Misericorde  de  Christ. 

J. — Le  hesoin  du  Salut. — Luc.  i.  78,  79  ;  Eev.  iii.  17. 

11. — La  Eecherche  du  Salut 

Bartiem^e  entend  (Rom.  x.  17) ;  a2)elle  (Esaie,  Iv.  6)  ;  persevere 

(Luc.  xviii.  1)  ;  vient  (Luc.  ix.  23)  ;  croit  (Acts  viii.  37). 

III. — Le  Salut  trowvS. 
L'Accueil  de  Jesus. — Jean  vi.  37. 
La  guerison. — 1  Pet.  ii.  9. 
Reconnaissance. — 1  Jean  iv.  19. 

*'  Each  had  a  Bible,  and  though  they  turned  up  verses  very 
slowly,  they  seemed  all  deeply  interested  in  it.  One  young 
man  especially,  who  has  been  converted  only  a  fortnight,  and 
who  never  had  a  New  Testament  before,  found  out  the  places, 
and  read  the  verses  with  great  alacrity.  He  is  a  garQon  in  an 
hotel,  and  would  have  gone  away  the  other  evening  had  I  not 
seen  him  hold  up  his  hand  to  be  prayed  for  at  an  after-meeting 
appearing  visibly  affected. 

"  He  seemed  to  have  received  the  message  at  once,  saying, 
*  that  is  the  truth,  and  I  believed  it.' 

"Another  man,  a  Catholic  from  Beauvais,  remained,  and 


352         Me^noir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

believed,  and  told  me  it  was  the  most  deliglitful  evening  lie  had 
ever  had  in  his  life. 

"  Mrs  Bonar  was  with  me  ;  we  reached  home  about  half-past 
twelve  ! " 

The  next  letter  that  I  give  is  also  to  myself,  and 
one  cannot  help  reading  it  in  connection  with  his 
own  "  departure,"  ere  the  October  foliage  fell. 

"  7  Aout,  1882. 

"  I  am  feeling  too  stupid  to  write,  being  rather  tired.  We 
shall  all  be  glad  to  get  away  for  a  rest,  and  with  the  certainty 
that  there  will  be  no  halls  to  open  at  Buisson  Luzag,  although 
I  may  do  a  little  evangelistic  work. 

"  That  woman  of  whom  I  wrote  to  you  has  been  seen  again. 
It  is  a  wonderful  case  of  Divine  guiding.  She  did  not  know 
why  she  turned  out  of  her  way  to  pass  our  hall,  as  she  did  not 
intend  it  at  all.  Somehow  or  other  she  felt  uncertain  about 
returning,  being  afraid  of  Protestants.  She  said,  indeed,  that 
the  first  time  she  entered,  if  any  one  had  told  her  that  we  were 
Protestants,  she  would  certainly  never  have  gone  in.  Miss 
M.  wrote  to  her,  and  has  had  long  conversation  with  her. 
She  seems  to  be  completely  gained  to  Christ,  and  yet  it  is 
touching  to  find  old  Catholic  beliefs  and  superstitions  coming 
up.  She  is  an  '  Enfant  de  Marie.'  These  are  chosen  for  their 
special  devotion  and  attachment  to  Mary.  She  said  to  Miss 
M.  :  *  May  I  think  about  her  sometimes  ] '  'Do  you  love  her  % ' 
'  I  love  her.'  '  Oh,  if  you  w^ould  only  speak  about  lier  too,  you 
would  convert  everybody '  !  and  so  on.  And  yet  I  have  no 
doubt  about  her  conversion.  The  text  on  the  wall  she  will 
never  forget — *  Jesus  Christ  came  to  seek  and  save  that  which 
was  lost.'     She  has  got  a  good  place  in  an  hotel. 

"  Did  I  tell  you  about  the  old  sceptic  at  Gare  d'lvry,  who  at 
last  has  yielded  out  and  out.     He  said  :  '  Je  crois  que  quand 


Suimner  Work.  353 

lea  feuilles  tomberont  au  mois  d'Octobre  je  m'en  irai  ;  quand 
mon  ame  s'epanouira  dans  la  gloire  du  ciel  avec  Jesus  Christ, 
je  me  souviendrai  de  toute  ma  vie  passee.'  Tliere  are  many 
others  I  could  tell  you  of.  It  is  wonderful  how  the  Lord  is 
working.  At  Grenelle  on  Sunday  evening  I  had  about  180 
people,  and  a  prayer  meeting  of  70.  Many  asked  to  be  prayed 
for.     I  've  been  writing  to  Moody  and  Mr.  Kelman. 

"  Yesterday  evening  I  was  at  St.  Honore,  and  we  had  an 
after-meeting,  most  interesting.  A  woman  came  in  for  the 
first  time  ;  I  wish  I  could  remember  her  exclamations  of  sur- 
prise ;  Miss  Mattheson  was  talking  to  her.  She  is,  I  believe, 
in  a  convent.  She  said  (for  salvation  seemed  to  dawn  on  her  as 
a  totally  new  thing),  "  Je  suis  toute  bouleversee  (altogether  upset, 
though  that  is  a  weak  rendering),  and  pointing  to  the  text  on 
the  walls, '  Jesus  Christ  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners,'  said, 
'  But  nobody  ever  told  me  that ;  nobody  ever  told  me  that  ;  the 
priests  never  told  me  anything  like  that ;'  she  kept  repeating 
it,  and  was  so  eager  to  know  that  she  asked  question  after 

question    before   Miss    M could  answer  those   she  had 

put.  She  went  away,  having,  I  think,  grasped  the  truth. 
I  had  a  conversation  with  another  man,  who  wished  to 
know  if  he  could  be  assured  of  pardon  in  one  evening,  or  if  it 
was  necessary  to  come  twice.  I  read  again  '  Bartim^e,'  and 
showed  that  he  had  only  one  opportunity,  and  then  the 
Ethiopian  Ruler  ;  he  went  away  saying,  '  Je  I'accepte.'  There 
did  not  seem  to  me  any  great  conviction  of  sin,  but  he  said  he 
had  stayed  to  find  out  if  he  could  get  pardon,  and  that  was 
striking.  Another  man  there  with  one  arm,  ill  with  consump- 
tion, has  also  come  to  Christ.  There  are  many,  very  many, 
anxious.  Oh,  if  only  there  were  reapers  ;  but  even  the  best  of 
the  French  pastors  don't  understand  this  sort  of  work.  Hirsch, 
who  is  such  a  good  man,  and  who  has  been  so  used  of  God  in 
work  throughout  France,  having  been  the  instrument  of  many 
conversions,  would  not  stay  last  night  to  the  after-meeting.    It 

2  A 


354        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

was  against  his  conscience  ;  lie  did  not  approve  of  these  ;  one 
could  visit  the  people  in  their  homes.  But  there  are  dozens 
whom  it  is  impossible  to  visit.  I  knew  of  three,  four,  if  not  five 
people,  all  now  Christian,  I  believe,  in  that  meeting,  who  can- 
not be  seen  at  home  at  any  time.  This  leads  me  to  ask  you  if 
you  will  not  give  me  a  short  note  as  to  your  opinion  of  the 
place  and  use  of  inquiry  meetings  as  a  part  of  evangelistic  work. 
I  think  of  publishing  a  small  tract  regarding  Moody's  work, 
showing  what  it  is,  with  a  view  to  draw  Frenchmen's  attention 
to  the  deficiencies  of  their  methods,  and  the  necessity  of  over- 
coming their  prejudices.  There  are  so  many  of  them.  Are 
there  not  evidences  that  inquiry  meetings  were  held,  in  the 
Book  of  Acts  1 " 

He  wrote  to  me  again,  regarding  this  invalid,  who 
was  lingering  on  a  sick-bed,  and  in  whose  case  he 
took  such  a  loving  interest.  The  visit  referred  to 
was  one  of  many  which  he  paid  to  this  sick-room,  and 
from  which  he  carried  away  words  as  messages  to 
others,  and  as  reminiscences  of  the  simple  faith  of 
those  poor  ouvriers  whom  he  delighted  to  teach  and 
to  watch  over, — the  seals  of  his  ministry,  of  whom  he 
could  truly  say,  "  ye  are  in  our  hearts,  to  die  and  to 
live  with  you." 

He  enclosed  some  lines,  and  adds,  "  Could  you 
revise  these,  if  you  think  them  fit  to  go  into  the 
October  Quarterly  ? "  The  words  are  truly  touch- 
ing, not  only  as  expressiv^e  of  the  sufferer's  faith 
and  love,  but  as  prophetic  of  the  departure  both 
of  himself  and  of  his  teacher  to  be  with  Christ  ere 
the    October    leaf    had    fallen.      He   survived    Mr. 


Simimer  Work.  355 

Dodds,  but  has  since  "fallen  asleep;"  and  tliey 
have  now  met  above,  perhaps  to  talk  over  this 
very  scene  and  these  very  words  in  the  death - 
room  below. 

"Je  crois  que  quand   les  feuilles   tomberont,  au 
mois  d'Octobre  je  m'en  irai." 
"  Vous  ne  craindrez  pas  ? " 
"  Non ;  je  m'en  irai  vers  Jesus  Christ." 
Mr.  Dodds'  rendering  of  the  above  most  touching 
words  is  as  follows  : — 

"  '  When  chill  October  comes,  and  leaves  are  falling,' 
He  said  to  lis,  *  I  think  I  shall  go  hence.' 
Then  o'er  him  bending,  '  Wilt  thou  be  afraid  ? 
Heaven's  gladness  lighted  up  the  weary  face  ; — 
*  No,  I  shall  go  to  be  with  Jesus  Christ.' 
He  had  lain  six  months  on  a  bed  of  pain, 
Fretful  that  on  him  lay  God's  heavy  hand. 
He  knew  not  why.     Dark  thoughts  of  unbelief 
Haunting  his  wakeful  spirit,  scaring  sleep 
All  the  night  watches  through  ;  so  fruitless  seemed 
Our  prayers,  and  even  the  living  Word  of  God  ; 
Until  one  day  the  story — often  told, 
Of  Him  who  took  our  j)lace,  and  died  for  us 
When  we  were  sinners — touched  him  with  new  power, 
And  a  glad  smile,  born  of  the  joy  within, 
Passed  over  that  wan  face.     '  Never,'  so  said 
His  nurse  and  faithful  friend,  '  had  radiant  smile 
Shone  on  him  during  these  long  months  like  this — 
A  feeble  ray,  foretelKng  endless  dawn. 
When,  so  said  he  to  us,  my  soul  shall  ope 
In  heaven's  eternal  glory  with  the  Lord." 


356        Memoir  of  Rev,  G.  T.  Dodds, 

Mr.  Dodds  was  fond  of  turning  into  verse  the 
little  incidents  of  the  Mission  or  the  brief  sayings  of 
the  converts;  and  he  did  it  well.  His  taste  for  verse, 
as  for  music,  was  very  correct ;  and  in  the  midst  of 
work  and  weariness  he  wrote  down  these  snatches. 
This  was  his  last. 

As  the  reader  may  be  interested  in  this  old  ouvrier 
of  Ivry  I  may  here  finish  the  touching  story.  Nearly 
every  Thursday  evening  for  many  months  Mr.  Dodds 
had  visited  him  to  tell  him  of  Christ  and  His  love, 
though  often  very  weary  with  previous  work.  The 
man  seemed  indifferent  and  stupid.  There  was  no 
indication  that  the  visits  were  of  any  use.  But  he 
was  dying, — dying,  without  hope,  and  Mr.  Dodds 
could  not  bear  the  thought  of  leaving  him  so.  At 
last  the  light  broke,  as  Mr.  Dodds  tells  in  these  verses. 
"  The  last  time  I  saw  him/'  says  a  friend,  "  he  could 
not  speak  much  ;  but  over  and  over  again  he  said, '  II 
m'  a  embrasse,' " — (he  kissed  me).  The  nurse  men- 
tioned that  Mr.  Dodds  had  kissed  him  before  going  to 
the  country ;  and  the  old  man  could  not  forget  this 
affection.  He  was  not,  however,  called  away  in  "chill 
October,"  but  lingered  till  December.  "  Yesterday,'' 
says  a  friend,"  with  Miss  Coldstream  and  Miss  Matthe- 
son,  we  walked  behind  the  hearse  as  mourners.  It  was 
so  strange  to  have  the  people  in  the  streets  looking  at 
us.  We  walked  for  a  mile  and-a-half,  and  saw  numbers 


Summer  Work.  357 

pass  by,  making  the  sign  of  the  cross  and  taking  off 
their  hats.  In  the  cemetery  Mr.  Greig  gave  an  account 
of  the  old  man's  conversion ;  and  quite  a  little  con- 
gregation gathered  round."  How  glad  would  Mr. 
Dodds  be  to  bid  the  old  man  welcome  to  the  many 
mansions ! 

Then  a  little  after  he  writes  to  his  brother : — 

"  AUTEUIL,  22iid  Ao'U^  1882. 

"  Thanks  for  your  post  card.  "We  go  at  tke  end  of  tke  week 
to  Le  Buisson  Luzas,  Salbris,  Loir  et  Cker.  If  you  can  send 
a  newspaper  from  time  to  time  I  stall  be  glad,  for  I  am  deeply 
interested  in  tkis  Egyptian  war,  more  from  a  religious  than  a 
political  point  of  view.  Surely  the  day  will  come  when 
'  Blessed  be  Egypt  my  people '  shall  be  fulfilled.  The  land  of 
Mitzraim  shall  be  remembered  for  having  afforded  a  refuge  to 
the  Son  of  God  from  Herod's  wrath  and  jealousy.  We  may 
see  strange  things  yet  in  the  East. 

"  I  '11  be  glad  to  get  a  rest,  as  I  am  very  tired, — the  work  has 
been  very  heavy  and  exacting  this  past  winter,  spring,  and 
summer.  There  is  a  very  marked  seriousness  amongst  the 
people,  and  a  strong  disposition  to  remain  for  after-meetings, 
when  we  can  get  hold  of  many  who  are  otherwise  difficult  to 
reach.  I  know  w-ell  two  women  from  the  better  class  of 
society,  who  are,  one  of  them  the  wife  of  a  libre-penseur,  who 
does  not,  I  think,  even  know  that  she  comes  to  the  meeting  ; 
the  other  stays  with  her  uncle,  who  is  a  priest  in  the  most 
Catholic  quarter  of  Paris.  These  people  cannot  be  visited  in 
their  houses,  although  the  wife  of  the  libre-penseur  sent  me  one 
day  a  request  to  call,  telling  me  that  her  husband  would  be 
away  all  day.  I  went ;  she  produced  her  Bible,  and  put  many 
a  question  to  me  which  showed  that  she  knew  her  Bible  far 


35^        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


better  than  many  a  Protestant.  Oh,  these  so-called  'free- 
thinkers ' !  I  never  saw  men  in  such  bondage, — snch  ignorant 
narrowness,  such  empty  vanity  and  haughty  conceit ! 

"  Moody  comes  in  October ;  I  '11  have  to  come  back  a  day 
from  Buisson  to  see  him,  as  he  preferred  to  see  me  on  his  return 
from  Switzerland  instead  of  stopping  here  on  his  way,  which 
he  intended  to  do.  I  'm  very  glad  you  got  two  or  three  days 
in  the  Highlands  ;  I  'd  give  anything  for  a  breath  of  that  air 
just  now. 

"  Did  I  tell  you  that  I  published  the  banns  of  marriage  one 
day  on  the  stairs  of  the  Scotch  chapel  for  a  fellow  who  was 
rather  in  distress  ?  His  marriage  could  not  have  been  easily  con- 
summated in  Scotland  had  I  not  done  it.  I  had  to  use  the 
English  form,  not  remembering  what  the  Scotch  one  was. 
Queer  things  a  man  has  to  do  in  this  foreign  land." 

I  give  a  brief  note  to  his  beloved  mother,  almost 

the  last  that  he  wrote  : — 

"24^/i  Jo^i,  1882. 

"Just  one  word  to  say  I  am  so  glad  you  got  the  fruit.  I 
fear  it  was  a  little  spoiled  some  of  it,  but  the  melon  would  be 
all  right.     I  wish  I  could  send  one  oftener. 

"  We  are  ha\^ng  colder  weather.  Henry,  it  seems,  is  quite 
domesticated  at  Greystonelees  ;  *  it  was  not  easy  to  part  with 
him,  but  aunts  and  grandmother  are  determined  to  have  their 
own  way.  Horace  and  Boz  are  counting  the  days  before  they 
go  down  to  Buisson  Luzas  ;  they  pronounce  that  name  very 
well.     It  is  five  miles  from  any  station. 

"  The  French  papers,  at  least  some  of  them,  are  furious  at  us 
for  the  Egyptian  war,  as  if  we  could  have  done  anything  else. 

*  His  third  son,  Henry,  whom  he  sometimes  calls  Comelivis,  had 
been  taken  by  his  grandmamma  to  Berwickshire  about  this  time, 
where  we  were  during  August  for  sea  quarters.  It  was  when  there 
that  we  heard  the  sad  tidings  from  Buisson, 


Plans  for  Rest.  359 

They  are  jealous  of  our  influence  in  Eg}^t ;  the  sooner  that 
country  is  under  a  British  protectorate  the  better.  I  've  plenty 
to  do  and  must  shut  up  ;  I  '11  write  from  Buisson  Luzas." 

The  following,  to  myself,  is,  I  believe,  the  very  last 
letter  he  wrote,  the  night  before  leaving  Paris  : — 

"  25t/i  AoOi.i,  1882. 
"  I  see  there  will  be  a  great  deficit  in  our  funds  this  year 
unless  money  speedily  comes  in.  We  have  drawn  everything 
in  Scotland ;  the  most  has  come  from  the  United  States  of 
America ;  there  is  about  £400,  if  even  that,  in  England,  and 
nothing  here  but  £40,  so  that  for  next  rent  day  we  shall  have 
to  draw  the  reserve.  This  state  of  matters  clips  our  extension 
wings  just  now.  I  don't  feel  discouraged,  but  one  can't  help 
being  anxious  as  to  where  the  money  will  come  from.  .  .  .  The 
work  is  exceedingly  solemn  and  responsible  just  now  ;  I  know 
He  is  trying  our  faith.  We  all  go  to-morrow  morning  to  Le 
Buisson ;  can  you  let  us  have  a  newspaper  now  and  again  to 
know  how  that  Egyptian  war  goes  on  ?  I  am  deeply  interested 
in  it.  You  will  hear  soon  from  us  from  Le  Buisson.  Salute 
all  from  me,  and  my  dear  wee  son." 

His  last  evening  was  a  busy  one, — the  close  of  a 
busy  day,  in  which  he  had  been  working,  planning, 
arranging  for  his  departure,  and  attending  the  Friday 
prayer  meeting.  He  had  been  at  Mr.  M'AlFs  house 
during  a  great  part  of  the  evening  transacting  Mission 
business,  not  parting  from  him  till  half-past  one  on 
the  morning:  of  the  26th.  He  then  came  home, 
wrote  letters,  gathered  his  books  and  Ulfilas  papers 
together,  occupying  thus  the  greater  part  of  the  night. 


360        Memoir  of  Rev,  G,  T,  Dodds, 

or  rather  morning.  Little  sleep,  if  any,  for  him  that 
night,  his  last  in  Paris,  though  he  knew  it  not ! 

Next  day  (Saturday)  at  half-past  nine,  the  whole 
family  (seven  in  number,  including  their  French 
servant,  the  youngest  being  an  infant  of  two  months) 
left  the  "  Orleans "  station,  in  Paris,  for  Salbris,  the 
village  nearest  their  destination,  which  lies  nearly 
seventy  miles  south  of  Paris.  Here  they  arrived 
about  one  o'clock,  and  were  met  by  a  conveyance 
which  was  to  take  them  the  remaining  five  miles 
of  their  journey.  Stopping  here  for  an  hour,  they 
purchased  all  needful  provision  for  their  future  wants, 
knowing  that  there  was  no  nearer  market-to  wn.  With 
this  stock  they  loaded  their  rustic  carriage,  and  set 
off  for  Buisson  Luzas ;  reaching  in  safety  the  house 
which  Mr.  Cannan  had  kindly  put  at  their  disposal, 
about  four  o'clock. 

The  day  had  been  fine,  and  the  railway  journey 
pleasant.  They  were  all  in  good  spirits,  the  children 
especially.  The  burdens  of  the  city  had  been  shaken 
off,  and  its  bustle  left  behind.  The  long-looked-for 
rest  was  now  coming  into  view.  And  to-morrow  was 
the  Sabbath !  A  Sabbath  in  the  country, — perhaps 
to  remind  them  of  their  own  Scotland  !  No  toiling 
through  the  hot  streets  with  their  open  shops  and  noisy 
crowds.     No  tear  and  wear,  either  of  body  or  of  soul. 

Jogging  along  over  rough  roads,  and  then  over  a 


Buisson  Luzas.  361 

level  moor,  they  soon  found  themselves  at  their 
new  house,  a  dwelling  which,  though  not  all  that 
could  be  desired  for  internal  replenishments  (as  it  had 
not  been  occupied  for  some  time)  was  in  many  ways 
comfortable;  its  deficiencies  drawing  forth  only  a 
little  merriment  from  its  new  occupiers.  And  had 
all  gone  well  afterwards, — had  sickness  not  come,  and 
come  so  suddenly, — the  discomforts  would  have  been 
little  thought  of;  and  the  complete  solitude  would 
rather  have  been  acceptable  in  a  time  of  health, 
especially  after  the  noise  of  the  city.* 

"  It  looked  very  pleasant  when  we  first  arrived," 
says  Mrs.  Dodds,  "  driving  as  we  did,  past  Scotch  firs 
with  hundreds  of  turkeys  sitting  on  and  under  them, 
— past  fragrant  fields  of  buckwheat  in  full  blossom, 
and  mingled  with  stretches  of  purple  heather  in 
richest  flower.  Every  breeze  seemed  life,  the  quiet- 
ness made  still  more  delicious  after  the  noise  of  Paris. 
We  expected  happy  days  there.  The  little  house  is 
neat  and  well  built,  facing  the  south.  In  front,  grass 
and   heather;   to   the  right  a   little  winding   walk 

*  They  had  not  had  opportunity  to  inquire  about  the  country 
before  setting  out.  Mr.  Dodds  was  busy,  and  when  at  last  he  went 
for  a  guide-book,  bought  that  for  the  department  of  CAer,  instead  of 
that  for  Loir  and  Cher.  The  mistake  is  the  more  remarkable,  because 
he  was  so  singularly  accurate  in  such  details.  There  was  no  time  to 
exchange  or  to  inquire  further  ;  or  perhaps  the  thought  of  going  to 
that  low-lying  aguish  province,  might  have  frightened  them ;  for 
Salbris  is  on  the  edge  of  the  Sologne,  or  desert  of  France, 


362        Memoir  of  Rev,  G,  T.  Dodds. 

among  filbert  trees,  loaded  with  nuts.  To  the  back 
are  some  fine  oak  trees,  farther  away,  firs.  It  was  a 
sweet,  wild  place,  like  a  Scotch  moor,  only  flat ;  not 
another  house  visible.  "We  had  a  good  laugh  on  our 
way  down  at  Ponceau,  the  old  man  who  drove  us,  and 
his  odd  account  of  things.  He  and  his  wife  (who 
was  engaged  to  help  us,  if  required)  lived  in  the  back 
part  of  the  house,  where  was  the  kitchen,  unfortu- 
nately only  to  be  reached  by  going  round  the  house, 
and  not  fully  furnished  with  proper  cooking  utensils. 
This  turned  out  to  be  a  great  evil  when  sickness  came; 
though  at  first  we  had  a  good  laugh  over  it,  being 
content  with  a  pot  to  boil  meat  in,  and  another  for 
soup ;  and  by  roasting  the  potatoes  on  the  ashes  of 
the  wood-fire  we  obviated  the  necessity  of  a  third. 
We  had  bought  provisions  in  passing  Salbris,  and 
thoroughly  enjoyed  the  rough  rye  loaf, — so  much 
sweeter  than  the  town  bread.  We  had  not  complete 
table  furnishings ;  but  as  we  knew  that  the  house  so 
kindly  placed  at  our  disposal  had  been  unoccupied, 
we  were  content.  As  to  the  beds,  we  had  been 
warned  to  bring  more  covers,  and  perhaps  a  mattress, 
but  we  had  not  brought  much,  as  we  did  not  feel  the 
need  of  it,  and  never  enjoyed  better  nights'  rest  than 
the  first  two  we  spent  there." 

I  had  written  more  letters  than  one  in  the  months 
of  July  and  August  to  him,  entreating  him  to  lay 


B 2ns son  Ltizas.  363 

aside  entirely  for  a  season  his  Paris  burdens  and 
worries,  which  I  saw  were  becoming  too  severe  for 
him.  He  had  found  some  difficulty  in  breaking  off; 
but  at  last  he  wrote  to  me  on  the  22nd  of  August, 
telling  me  that  the  day  was  fixed, — giving  also  the  full 
address,  and  adding :  "  Even  in  the  midst  of  all  the 
work  here  I  have  quiet  times ;  almost  always  in  the 
morning,  and  very  often  in  the  afternoon  ;  and  these 
inquiry-meetings  are  seasons  of  repose  to  me  after 
the  day's  work."  I  answered  on  the  following  day, 
that  my  letter  might  reach  in  good  time,  to  the 
following  effect : — "I  send  this  to  your  country  retreat, 
thinking  that  it  will  reach  you  about  the  same  time 
as  you  yourselves  arrive.  I  hope  that  it  is  really 
the  country,  really  a  '  retreat ' — a  place  apart.  The 
brain  needs  quiet,  otherwise  it  must  suffer  in  the 
long-run.  You  don't  know  how  often  we  talk  about 
you  all,  young  and  old.  Let  me  give  you  a  motto 
or  watchword  for  your  solitude — Exod.  xxxiii.  18 — 
Moses'  cry  in  the  wilderness,  the  summing  up  of  all 
he  wanted,  and  its  correspondence  with  John  xvii.  24. 
In  Exodus,  God  points  Moses  to  '  a  place  by  Me,'  a 
cleft  in  the  rock,  and  the  Lord  prays  that  we  may 
be  WITH  Him  where  He  is,  that  we  may  behold  His 
glory.  May  Buisson  Luzas  be  '  the  place  by  Me,'  the 
cleft  of  the  rock  to  you  and  yours,  '  where  you  shall 
behold  His  glory.'  " 


364        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


Along  with  this  I  wrote  a  few  verses,  which  I 
thought  might  suit  the  solitary  missionary,  seeking 
refreshment,  yet  longing  for  restoration  to  his  beloved 
work.  I  entitled  it  "  My  Holiday,"  or  the  "  Hymn 
of  a  Christian  Worker,"  adding  two  texts,  "  Sit  ye  here 
while  I  go  and  pray  yonder;"  ...  "I  was  in  the 
isle  that  is  called  Patmos." 


Stay,  stay  behind  me,  my  too  busy  thoughts, 
Whilst  I  go  yonder  for  a  little  while  ; 

Nay,  do  not  follow  me  ;  let  me  forget 
My  city-stir,  and  fret,  and  heat,  and  toil. 

Tarry  behind  me  ;  vex  me,  touch  me  not, 
Ye  endless  aches  of  heart,  and  brow,  and  brain  ; 

Vanish,  like  mist,  each  scene  that  would  recall 
My  vision  to  the  crowd  and  street  again. 

Pursue  me  not ;  but  let  me  calmly  go 

To  the  retirement  which  the  Master  sought : 

Set  free  from  all  that  would  encumber  me, 
Or  mar  the  sweetness  of  the  heavenly  thought. 

Get  thee  behind  me  now,  thou  tempter  dark, 
Prompter  of  all  my  earth-begotten  cares  ; 

Begone,  begone,  old  fowler,  from  the  pit. 
With  all  thy  fowler's  hell-begotten  snares. 

The  stillness  of  the  closet's  stillest  hush, 
The  lonely  silence  of  the  lonely  wood  ; 

The  stream,  the  cliff,  the  plain,  the  dusky  moor 
Shall  furnish  me  with  fruitful  solitude. 


Btiisson  Lttzas.  365 

Tarry  behind  me  for  a  season,  then, 

Beloved  workers  for  this  needy  land  ; 
I  go  that  I  may  find  in  gentle  rest 

New  fitness  for  the  work  so  dear  and  grand. 

Tarry  behind  ;  leave  me,  dear  friends,  alone, 
Companions  of  my  days  and  nights  of  toil ; 

I  shall  return  to  you,  refreshed  and  calm, — 
Leave  me  alone  with  God,  alone  a  while. 

I  would  return  to  work  with  you  on  earth  ; 

The  health  of  my  whole  man  revived,  restored  ; 
Again  to  labour  with  you  side  by  side. 

In  the  one  vineyard  of  cur  common  Lord. 

From  quiet  weeks  of  solitude  and  prayer. 
Of  converse  with  the  High  and  Holy  One, 

"Whose  work  with  these  poor  hands  we  seek  to  do, 
I  would  return  to  you  a  holier  man. 

Help  me,  my  comrades  on  the  harvest-field  ; 

Help  me,  companions  in  the  holy  war, — 
That  in  the  eternal  firmament  I  may 

Shine  with  the  brightness  of  no  common  star. 

"  We  had  a  short  walk  on  Saturday  night,"  Mrs. 
Dodds  writes.  "I  cannot  remember  if  he  was  any 
distance  on  Sunday,  though  I  remember  his  pulling 
grapes  from  the  front  of  the  house.  I  was  out  a 
good  deal  with  the  children  in  the  forenoon,  under 
the  oaks.  In  the  afternoon,  while  we  were  resting, 
the  nurse  went  about  with  the  children,  and  brought 


366        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds, 

mushrooms  home  in  her  handkerchief.  She  said  that 
they  were  exactly  the  kind  which  she  had  been  accus- 
tomed to  eat  in  her  own  part  of  the  country ;  but  she 
brought  them  for  us  to  examine.  Mr.Dodds  looked  over 
them  all  carefully,  every  one, throwing  out  two  or  three 
of  which  he  was  not  sure.  He  said  he  knew  the  sort  well. 
Next  morning  we  took  a  short  walk  to  the  adjoining 
vineyard,  and  came  back  across  the  deep  heather. 
I  remember  feeling  a  little  afraid,  from  having  heard 
that  there  were  vipers  here  of  a  bad  sort ;  but  I  felt 
strangely  confident  that  God  was  with  us,  and  would 
let  no  evil  thing  befall  us.  We  got  back,  probabl}^ 
before  mid-day  rather  than  after  it,  and  ate  the  cooked 
mushrooms  with  other  things.  Not  till  twelve  hours 
afterdid  we  feel  the  slightest  indication  of  illness. 
I  had  much  unpacking  to  do.  He  was  very  weary, 
and  the  racking  headache  which  he  had  brought 
with  him  from  Paris  showed  no  signs  of  yielding. 
He  rested  on  the  sofa,  reading  most  of  the  two  days, 
except  when  he  went  out  for  a  little  air.  I  cannot 
help  associating  that  headache,  not  only  with  over- 
work and  want  of  sleep,  but  with  the  bad  air  of  the 
crowded  salles  of  August.  It  seems  as  if  poison  from 
their  air  had  already  entered  into  a  system  at  all  times 
terribly  susceptible.  This  seems  to  have  been  partly 
the  reason  of  his  being  the  only  one  who  sank  under 
the  poison,  which  in  itself,  it  appears,  was  not  of  a  very 


Illness.  367 


deadly  kind.  Any  really  fatal  dose  would  have  acted 
within  two  hours  instead  of  twelve.  Coupling  this  with 
his  accurate  botanical  knowledge,  it  is  clear  that  it  was 
not  toadstools  that  were  eaten  but  bad  mushrooms.* 
By  reason  of  his  previous  exhaustion  and  loss  of 
appetite,  any  irritating  substance  might  have  pro- 
duced the  same  effect.  He  had  been  working  to  the 
very  verge  of  serious  danger ;  only,  we  felt  that  as  God 
had  sent  the  work,  and  as  there  was  no  one  else  to  do 
what  must  be  done.  He  would  carry  him  through. 

"  That  evening  (Monday)  we  took  tea  early  and  took 
a  walk  afterwards.  The  father  led  his  two  little  boys 
back,  one  on  each  side,  for  the  last  time.  We  pro- 
posed hot  water  for  his  feet  as  a  remedy  for  his 
headache,  and  he  rested  on  the  sofa  afterwards,  while 
I  was  busy  ranging  out  a  drawer  in  the  room  beside 
him,  and  afterwards  reading  to  him.  Then  I  went 
to  bed,  but  before  he  could  follow  he  was  taken 
violently  ill,  each  attack  of  sickness  occasioning 
fearful  pain.  I  got  the  servant  up  and  had  a  fire 
lighted  and  water  warmed,  thus  doing  what  we  could. 
I  began  to  be  ill  about  an  hour  after  this,  but  neither 
I  nor  the  servant  were  stricken  as  he  was,  nor  incapaci- 
tated from  attending  to  him.  He  complained  of  cramps 
and  of  cold,  and  I  felt  terribly  alarmed,  but  did  not  as 

*  It  seems  that  the  soil  on  which  mushrooms  grow  has  the  power 
of  somewhat  altering  their  qualities. 


368        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 

yet  feel  sure  as  to  the  real  cause.  Ponceau  went  for 
the  doctor  early  in  the  morning,  but  it  was  afternoon 
before  he  arrived.  During  this  time  we  felt  better,  and 
I  ceased  to  be  alarmed  about  Mr.  Dodds,  except  that, 
knowing  his  exhausted  state,  I  dreaded  evil  from 
weakness.  When  Dr.  Jourdain  came,  weak  as  the 
sufferer  was,  his  first  question  was,  "  Shall  I  be  able 
to  go  back  to  Paris  to  see  Mr.  Moody  in  the  end  of 
the  week  ? "  The  doctor  gave  a  cheerful  but  evasive 
answer;  I  do  not  know  what  he  really  thought. 
That  night  (Tuesday)  the  nurse  felt  unable  to  rise, 
but  Madame  Ponceau  came  up  twice  and  did  what 
was  needed.  She  was  kind,  but  her  cooking  lacked 
cleanliness,  and  we  thought  that  it  was  this  that 
foiled  our  attempts  to  take  food.  There  was  plenty 
of  milk ;  he  took  it  but  did  not  retain  it.  On  Wed- 
nesday two  servants  were  sent  from  an  English 
gentleman  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  the  two  little 
boys  were  taken  to  his  house  for  the  day.  There 
were  plenty  of  hands  to  help,  only  a  directing 
head  was  wanting,  for  I  was  getting  terribly  weak  by 
this  time.  I  thought  that  beef  tea  was  what  was 
wanted ;  but  no  one  knew  how  to  make  it.  Seeing 
that  milk  did  not  agree  with  him,  I  got  oatmeal 
brought  up,  and  with  my  spirit  lamp  and  pan  made 
very  thin  gruel,  which  we  both  took,  but  did  not 
retain.     He  had  moved  into  the  next  room  by  this 


Illness.  369 


time,  so  I  had  not  only  to  keep  awake  in  order  to 
boil  the  gruel,  but  to  carry  it  to  him  each  time. 
This  went  on  all  night.  My  head  must  have  been 
greatly  confused;  for  I  have  no  very  distinct  re- 
collection of  these  hours.  I  was  anxious,  too,  about 
baby,  who  was  in  another  room;  and  hearing  him 
cry,  I  went  to  him,  but  could  not  lift  him  up ;  so 
I  lay  down  beside  him. 

"  On  Thursday  morning  the  doctor  came,  and  a 
servant  from  the  other  house  (about  two  miles  off), 
so  we  were  not  left  alone  for  any  length  of  time.  But 
I  remember  nothing  clearly,  and,  when  Miss  Mattheson 
and  Dr.  Darcus  came,  I  seemed  to  resign  everything 
into  their  hands  with  a  feeling  of  relief.  All  this 
watching,  and  the  anxiety,  not  only  about  my  hus- 
band, but  my  baby,  whom  I  was  nursing,  increased 
my  own  illness ;  but  that  I  could  stand  it  so  far  is  a 
proof  that  the  poison  was  not  fatal.  The  nurse, 
though  suffering  much,  managed  to  rise  and  get  the 
children  their  food,  though  having  to  lie  down  again. 
How  the  poor  baby  lived  I  do  not  know.  I  know 
nothing  of  the  subsequent  days  till  Sunday,  when 
I  awoke  from  delirium  to  dreadful  anxiety  about  him, 
which  those  about  me  tried  to  allay.  He  was  in  the 
other  room,  the  door  open  between  us ;  so  I  some- 
times saw  him  raise  his  hand.  On  Wednesday, 
6th  September,  we  changed  rooms,  and  I  saw  him 

2b 


370        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 

a  little,  morning  and  evening,  but  was  awfully 
startled  at  his  appearance  that  day.  We  wanted 
him  to  stay  in  the  nicer  and  more  comfortable  room ; 
but  he  did  not  like  it,  for  some  reason  or  other, 
and  so  returned  to  his  old  place.  On  Thursday  I  lay 
on  the  couch  in  the  same  room  with  him,  and  often 
could  bathe  his  brow  and  do  little  things,  but  my 
hand  was  so  shaky  and  my  head  still  so  wandering 
that  I  felt  afraid  of  making  some  mistake ;  so  I  could 
do  little.  I  feared  to  ask  him  to  speak,  on  account 
of  the  pain  it  gave  him,  and  he  never  did  so,  except 
to  ask  for  what  he  wanted,  and  once  he  whispered, 
*  Pray  for  more  strength.'  " 

He  was  not  in  the  least  unconscious  all  this  time, 
though  totally  prostrate.  The  little  boys  came  into 
his  room  every  morning,  and  he  kissed  them.  Once 
when  one  of  them  was  rather  noisy  outside  the  house, 
he  called  out  to  him  from  his  bed,  as  the  window 
was  open,  very  much  in  his  old  natural  voice,  and  was 
instantly  obeyed,  as  he  always  was  by  his  children. 

He  seems  to  have  somewhat  realised  his  danger, 
though  not  to  the  full  extent.  His  thoughts  were 
about  his  work  and  the  prospect  of  his  being  able 
soon  to  resume  it,  as  if  he  had  forgotten  that  he  had 
come  to  this  solitude  for  rest.  But  his  weakness  was 
extreme,  so  that,  though  the  poison  had  been  got  rid 
of,  he  was  unable  to  rally.     The  system  was  giving 


Illness,  371 


way,  and  the  inability  to  take  support  of  any  kind, 
solid  or  liquid,  without  extreme  pain,  made  the  case 
a  very  difficult  one  to  treat. 

On  Tuesday,  the  day  after  he  was  taken  ill,  it  had 
been  proposed  to  ask  Miss  Matthesonto  come  to  their 
help  from  Paris,  and  to  bring  with  her  the  physician 
of  the  Mission.  As,  however,  no  serious  alarm  had  yet 
been  felt,  and  as  both  were  rather  better  that  day, 
they  waited  till  Wednesday.  Feeling  no  better  then, 
they  telegraphed  for  her,  though  neither  of  the  two 
sick  ones  was  very  able  even  to  draw  up  a  telegram, 
and  there  was  no  one  else  in  the  house  that  could 
write  !  Mr.  Dodds,  however,  managed  to  do  it.  Miss 
M.  was  out  when  the  telegram  reached  Paris,  and 
could  not  start  till  next  morning.  This  she  did,  and 
arrived  on  the  afternoon  of  Thursday,  bringing  the 
doctor  with  her,  and  some  needed  comforts  as  well  as 
medicines.  Their  arrival  was  like  that  of  two  messen- 
gers from  heaven.  Each  of  the  three  inmates 
lay  prostrate,  incapable  of  giving  help  to  each 
other.  Two  servants  had  been  kindly  sent  from  Mr. 
David  Cannan's  (about  two  miles  off)  in  the  forenoon 
to  render  them  any  requisite  service ;  but  they  had 
left,  and  the  sufferers  were  lying  in  solitude,  each  in 
separate  rooms,  waiting  for  the  arrival  of  their  friends 
from  Paris.  The  relief  afforded  by  their  arrival  was 
unspeakable ;  and  the  assiduous  tenderness  of  the 
subsequent  nursing,  amid  difficulties  and  discomforts. 


372        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds. 


is  something  never  to  be  forgotten.  It  was  a  "  cup 
of  cold  water  "  indeed. 

Details  of  the  following  ten  days  and  nights  of 
suffering,  till  the  final  relief  came,  are  not  necessary. 
He  was  conscious  to  the  last,  though  unable  to  speak. 
This  "  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,"  through  which 
he  was  passing,  was  a  strange  one, — a  valley  of  sad- 
ness and  silence  and  mystery.  His  strength  was  gone, 
his  lips  were  sealed,  just  at  the  very  time  when  he 
would  have  desired  to  send  "  last  messages "  to  his 
friends  and  to  his  beloved  ouvriers.  His  thoughts 
towards  them  remained  unspoken.  No  farewells 
were  permitted  to  be  given.  They  who  loved  him 
must  imagine  for  themselves  the  affection  that  was 
pent  up  within  him,  unable  to  get  vent  to  itself  in 
these  days  of  restlessness,  pain,  and  solitude. 

I  give  Miss  Mattheson's  touching  narrative,  written 
a  few  days  after  his  death,  or  the  14th  September  : — 

"  On  arriving  at  Le  Buisson  on  Thursday,  31st  August,  1882, 
we  found  Mr.  Dodds,  Mrs.  Dodds,  and  the  bonne  all  very  ill. 

"  Mr.  Dodds  received  us,  saying,  '  The  Lord  has  brought  us 
very  low  ;  how  good  of  you  to  come.'  He  was  then  so  weak 
and  cold,  and  his  voice  quite  gone.  The  next  few  days  he 
rallied  a  little,  and  was  able  to  take  some  nourishment. 

"  On  Friday  he  remembered  the  workers'  prayer  meetiug 
in  Paris,  and  that  prayer  would  be  made  for  them. 

"Mrs.  Dodds  was  still  ill  and  unable  to  nurse  him.  One 
day  he  asked  what  the  doctor's  opinion  was.  On  hearing  he 
had  good  hopes  of  his  recovery,  he  received  it  in  silence, 
as  if  he  did  not  think  it  could  be  true. 


Fallen  in  the  Breach.  373 

"  He  suffered  very  much  all  the  tune  from  pain  and  rest- 
lessness and  sickness,  but  never  a  murmur  escaped  him. 

"  On  Wednesday,  the  6th  September,  in  the  evening,  he 
said  he  did  not  think  he  could  live  through  the  night,  he 
felt  so  weak.  He  frequently  said  he  was  sorry  to  give  so  much 
trouble. 

"On  Thursday,  when  reading  part  of  Isaiah  xxxii.,  sent 
as  a  message  by  Mrs.  Bonar  to  Mr.  Dodds,  when  we  came  to 
the  words  *  quiet  resting-places'  in  the  18th  verse,  he  said 
'  That's  just  for  me.' 

"  He  did  not  speak  much,  even  of  the  work  he  loved  so 
well.  He  was  calm  and  silent,  and  seemed  to  have  laid 
every  burden  down.  We  felt  so  sure  that  all  was  well  with 
him  we  did  not  like  to  trouble  him  with  questions.  Kemark- 
ing  to  him  one  day  how  strangely  different  this  resting-time 
was  from  what  he  had  anticipated,  he  answered,  *  The  Lord 
is  teaching  me  so  much.' 

"  On  Friday  haemorrhage  came  on,  and  the  restlessness  was 
very  distressing  till  within  two  hours  of  the  end. 

"  On  Saturday  afternoon  I  asked  him  if  all  was  peace.  For 
a  moment  there  was  a  look  of  pain  as  if  he  was  thinking  of  all 
he  must  leave,  but  when  I  added  '  perfect  peace  in  Jesus,'  he 
assented  with  a  radiant  smile. 

"The  end  was  peace.  Without  a  struggle  he  fell  asleep 
in  Jesus  at  half-past  six  on  Saturday  evening,  the  9th  Sep- 
tember. 

"The  French  doctor,  who  attended  him,  was  deeply  in- 
terested in  him,  and  in  the  little  he  heard  of  his  life  work.  He 
said  of  him,  '  C'est  un  soldat  tombe  a  la  breche,'  '  He  is  a 
soldier  fallen  in  the  breach.'  " 

We  in  Scotland  had  heard  nothing  of  the  illness  for 
nearly  a  week  after  the  arrival  at  Buisson.  There  was 
no  one  to  write  ;   and  besides,  we  were  out  of  town. 


374        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

The  same  letter  that  first  told  us  of  the  illness  gave 
the  assurance  that  the  worst  was  over.  And  so  it 
would  have  been  had  his  system  been  equal  to  the 
strain.  For  he  may  be  said  to  have  thrown  off  the 
poison ;  but,  under  the  weakening  effects  of  it,  his 
strength  gave  way,  acute  internal  irritation  (gastro- 
enteritis) supervening,  occasioning  much  pain  and 
restlessness,  as  well  as  inability  to  swallow. 

The  post-cards  which  reached  us  from  day  to  day, 
written  by  the  kind  hand  of  Miss  Mattheson,  were 
re-assuring  even  to  the  last,  when  the  telegram 
announcing  his  death  came  with  a  most  unexpected 
blow  upon  us  on  the  follomng  Monday  (the  11th), 
living  as  we  were  at  the  time  some  fifty  miles  out 
of  Edinburgh.  The  telegram  reached  Lochee  on 
Sabbath  (the  10th),  just  as  afternoon  service  was 
beginning,  and  Mr.  Dodds  had  entered  the  pulpit. 

Miss  Coldstream  had  set  off  from  Edinburgh  in  the 
beginning  of  the  week,  and  reached  Buisson  on  Wed- 
nesday. Her  arrival  greatly  cheered  the  invalids. 
Weak  as  he  was  Mr.  Dodds  felt  her  kindness  exceed- 
ingly. The  doctor  had  not  yet  given  him  up,  and 
the  two  loving  nurses  watched  him  day  and  night, 
in  hope  to  the  very  last.  Miss  Coldstream's  account 
of  the  last  few  days  is  painfully  interesting : — 

"  How  Miss  M.  got  through  the  first  six  days  with  the 
suffering  ones  it  is  difficult  to  imagine.  Mr.  Dodds  at 
the  lowest;  Mrs.  Dodds  delirious  for  two  days;   the 


The  Deathbed.  375 


bonne  hardly  able  to  walk,  and  the  four  little  children 
to  be  cared  for.  But  daily  strength  was  given;  and  on 
the  Monday  a  Swiss  servant  was  sent  from  Paris,  who 
proved  the  greatest  comfort  throughout  the  following 
week.  I  followed  on  Wednesday.  Mr.  Dodds  received 
me,  saying,  *  How  kind  of  you  to  come ;  I  wish  we 
could  give  you  a  better  welcome.'  This  was  the 
longest  sentence  I  heard  him  say.  He  was  very 
silent.  It  seemed  as  if  all  his  strength  was  needed 
to  endure,  and  be  patient.  Not  a  murmur  escaped 
his  lips.  The  doctor  gave  us  hope  to  the  end,  though 
I  believe  he  really  did  give  him  up  when  haemorrhage 
began  on  Friday,  the  8th.  We  took  turns  in  nursing ; 
but  that  night  we  sat  up  together  most  of  the  time. 
Mrs.  Dodds  was  not  fit  for  nursing,  though  she  was 
able  to  sit  by  her  husband  for  a  little  while  at  a  time. 
His  restlessness  was  distressing,  and  demanded  con- 
stant change  from  bed  to  a  couch  placed  close  to  him. 
We  bathed  his  face  and  hands  from  time  to  time,  and 
gave  spoonfuls  of  beef-tea  and  milk,  and  latterly 
champagne.  But  it  became  more  and  more  painful 
for  him  to  swallow.  At  four  on  Saturday,  the  9th, 
the  doctor  came  for  his  daily  visit, — the  longingly 
watched-for  moment  of  the  day  ;  he  was  so  kind  and 
considerate,  and  always  spent  about  an  hour  with  us. 
He  brought  ice  with  him,  which  we  would  fain  have 
had  twenty-four  hours  sooner.  Mr.  Dodds  seemed  to 
like  it ;  and  the  doctor  advised  putting  more  covering 


376        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

on  him,  and  hot  bottles  to  his  feet.  He  told  us  of 
one  who  had  been  worse,  and  was  now  well,  altogether 
cheering  us.  I  persuaded  Miss  M.  to  come  out  for  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  while  Mrs.  Dodds  was  with  him ; 
and  we  had  our  first  quiet  tea  together.  Just  as  we 
finished,  Mrs.  Dodds  called  us ;  and  a  glance  at  the 
face  on  the  pillow  showed  us  that  our  hopes  were  dis- 
appointed. "We  wet  his  lips  with  champagne ;  but 
saw  that  all  power  to  take  nourishment  was  gone.  So 
we  knelt  beside  the  poor  little  bed,  and  committed 
the  parting  soul  to  God.  Not  a  sigh,  not  a  struggle ; 
we  hardly  knew  the  moment  of  the  last  breath. 
I  led  Mrs.  Dodds  into  a  quiet  room,  and  she  lay  down 
quite  calmly.  We  then  closed  his  eyes,  and  did  the 
little  things  we  could  while  dear  good  Ida  ran  to  get 
help  at  the  nearest  cottage.  The  sun  was  just  setting ; 
and  it  was  dark  before  help  came.  The  dear  babes 
slept  soundly  that  evening.  I  wrote  out  the  tele- 
grams, five  of  them,  and  wrote  also  to  the  doctor.  At 
nine  Ida  and  the  farm-servant  set  off  in  the  cart  to 
Salbris,  five  miles  off,  to  convey  the  intelligence,  and 
give  necessary  orders.  We  lay  down  and  slept  a  few 
hours.  At  four  Ida  returned  and  told  us  that  Dr. 
Jourdain  would  come  in  the  morning.  It  was  so 
strange, — that  Sunday  morning  !  Our  work  seemed 
done ;  and  we  were  thankful  of  the  lovely  day  and 
perfect  quiet  of  the  beautiful  country  to  rest  and 
calm  us. 


Return  from  Buisson.  377 

"  The  coffin  arrived  at  midnight ;  and  Miss  M.  had 
to  rise  with  Ida.  Before  the  sad  duty  of  laying 
the  body  in  the  coffin,  she  held  a  little  service  in  the 
*  wee '  sitting-room  with  the  six  men  who  came  to 
help ;  and  she  gave  them  *  ^vangiles '  at  the  close. 
At  five  A.M.  Mr.  Greig  arrived  on  foot  from  Salbris. 
It  was  arranged  that  we  should  leave  that  night  at 
five.  It  took  us  every  moment  of  our  time  to  pre- 
pare, and  Mrs.  Dodds  was  quite  helpless.  But  a 
Countess  Delanbourg,  a  Eoman  Catholic,  who  had 
occasionally  called,  came  twice  that  day,  and  brought 
flowers  for  the  coffin,  which  was  so  simple  (unpolished 
oak  raised  in  the  centre),  and  was  beside  us  in  the 
parlour  all  the  day  when  we  packed.  The  sunbeams 
coming  in  at  the  open  door  and  falling  across  the 
lovely  flowers,  seemed  to  speak  of  glory  begun  for 
the  weary  soldier.  At  one,  a  garde-chasse  (game- 
keeper) was  sent  with  two  little  cooked  partridges  for 
our  dinner.  Then  Madame  Delanbourg  reappeared  to 
help  us  off.  Her  brother's  carts  took  the  luggage, 
and  we, — that  is,  Mrs.  Dodds,  Miss  M.,  Ida,  and  two 
babies  (the  two  elder  boys  had  been  sent  off  on 
Saturday  to  Versailles,  and  one  was  in  Scotland),  and 
I  occupied  the  one  spring- cart,  along  a  weary  drive  of 
five  miles  over  a  rough  road.*  At  eight  we  left  Salbris, 

*  Mr.  Greig  went  down  to  fetch  the  remains  on  Tuesday. 
I  extract  from  the  Quarterly  Record  of  the  Mission,  Mr.  Greig's  brief 
account  of  his  return  with  the  remains : — "As  the  conveyance  bearing 


2)^'^         Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

and  got  to  Paris  at  2  A.M.  Tuesday  morning.  The 
funeral  service  was  in  the  Oratoire  on  Thursday.  A 
large  assembly  of  rich  and  poor, — hundreds  of  the 
poor  people  of  the  '  Eeunions '  being  there.  At 
three  M.  Monod,  followed  by  the  pastors  and  the 
chief  mourners,  entered  by  the  vestry.  Miss  M.  led 
little  Horace,  and  I  Boswall ;  each  had  a  lovely 
bouquet  to  lay  on  the  cofiBn.  It  was  on  an  erection 
in  the  centre  of  the  church,  covered  by  a  black  and 
silver  pall,  and  we  sat  around  it.  M.  Monod  gave  a 
beautiful  address,  telling  the  story  of  Mr.  Dodds' 
coming  to  Paris,  and  of  his  last  days.  Mr.  Hitchcock 
and  Mr.  Muir  of  Dalmeny  took  part  in  the  service. 
At  the  grave  M.  Appia  and  M.  Monod  again  read, 
and  spoke  a  few  words;  and  we  joined  in  singing 
'  For  ever  with  the  Lord '  in  French." 

The  scene  was  sadly  touching  in  all  its  accompani- 

the  cojQ&n  turned  off  the  dreary  moor  amid  whose  purple  solitudes  he 
had  gathered  his  death,  the  sun,  all  hidden  behind  an  envious  mist, 
burst  forth  gloriously  ere  it  set,  and  flooded  with  radiance  the 
livid  stretch  of  heathery  sand.  .  .  .  The  twelve  hundred  mourners 
at  the  Oratoire,  the  phalanx  of  fellow-workers  and  fellow-pastors 
who  bore  him  to  his  grave,  the  hushed  silence  that  fell  upon  salle 
after  salle  as  the  mournful  news  was  announced,  all  bore  witness  to 
the  deep  and  genuine  impression  which  his  dauntless  witness -bearing 
had  stamped  on  the  Parisian  heart.  And  from  his  grave  in  the 
little  Passy  cemetery  where  he  sleeps  the  warrior's  hard-earned 
sleep,  the  watcher  for  the  dawn  of  France's  Gospel  liberty  looks  out 
over  gay  Paris  spread  beneath  his  feet,  and  cries,  '  0  thou  sword  of 
the  Lord,  how  long  will  it  be  ere  thou  be  quiet?  put  up  thyself 
into  thy  scabbard,  rest,  and  be  still  !  " 


FttneraL  379 


ments ;  the  church,  the  audience,  the  hymn,  the 
addresses,  the  prayers,  the  tears  of  the  converts ;  and 
that  which  perhaps  was  only  seen  by  a  few,  little 
Boswall  playing  with  the  flowers,  after  he  had  laid 
them  on  his  father's  bier,  in  child-like  unconscious- 
ness of  his  loss. 

Hearing  of  all  this  we  are  troubled.  Wondering 
at  the  sorrowful  scene  we  ask,  Is  this  the  end  ?  Or 
is  it  but  the  beginning?  Is  this  death  the  fore- 
runner of  life  ?  Is  that  grave  the  herald  of  resurrec- 
tion to  France  ? 

From  the  Oratoire  the  mourning  company  pro- 
ceeded to  Passy  Cemetery,  near  Auteuil  (close  by  the 
Trocadero),  the  south-west  suburb  of  the  city,  in 
which  Mr.  Dodds  had  for  some  time  resided.  The 
scene  at  the  grave  was  no  less  affecting  than  that  in 
the  Church  ;  and  some  of  the  men  em23loyed  in  lower- 
ing the  body  into  the  grave  wept  as  they  remembered 
him  for  whom  they  were  now  doing  the  last  earthly 
office. 

In   the  Daily  Revieiu    of  18th   September   Mr. 

Affleck,   of  Auchtermuchty,  who  was  present,  thus 

narrates  the  proceedings : — 

"About  three  weeks  ago,  when  on  my  way  to  Switzerland, 
I  attended  along  with  my  brother  a  meeting  in  the  hall  Rue 
de  la  Tacherie,  Rue  de  Rivoli,  in  some  respects  the  chief  of  the 
stations  of  the  Mission.  The  meeting  was  quite  full  of  working 
people  of  both  sexes,  and  was  presided  over  and  admirably  con- 


380         Memoir  of  Rau.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


ducted  by  Mr.  Dodds.  A  number  of  infidels  were  present  and 
disposed  to  be  troublesome,  but  Mr.  Dodds  bravely  faced  and 
soon  silenced  them.  He  delivered  an  eloquent  address  on 
courage,  explaining  what  it  is,  and  showing  that  the  Christian 
is  the  man  of  true  courage.  I  thought  he  was  a  good  embodi- 
ment of  his  subject.  His  address  was  delivered  with  great 
power,  animation,  readiness  of  illustration,  and  was  most  evan- 
gelical. He  showed  a  wonderful  facility  in  the  use  of  French. 
He  afterwards  conducted  a  Bible  class,  going  over  with  a  num- 
ber of  them  the  passage  in  Ephesians  vi.,  about  the  whole 
armour  of  God.  He  told  me  many  of  the  people  were  so 
ignorant  they  had  to  teach  them  in  the  simplest  way,  and  to 
give  them  the  pages  in  the  Bible,  as  they  did  not  know  where 
to  find  the  various  books.  I  had  some  conversation  with  him 
about  the  progress  of  the  work,  of  which  he  was  full  of  hope. 
He  impressed  me  as  a  consecrated  man,  and  I  left  the  meeting 
with  the  feeling  that  in  him  God  had  raised  up  one  of  high 
promise  for  the  advancement  of  His  caiase  here.  Little  did 
I  think  our  first  conversation  was  to  be  the  last.  This  must 
have  been  one  of  the  last  meetings  he  addressed,  as  two 
days  after  he  left  Paris  for  a  few  weeks'  much-needed 
repose  in  the  country,  at  Buisson  Luzas,  where  the  sad  fatal- 
ity befell  that  has  so  prematurely  cut  short  his  hopeful  career. 
"  The  funeral  service  was  held  in  the  Temple  de  I'Oratoire 
du  Louvre  this  afternoon.  Besides  the  chief  mourners,  the 
Kev.  Mr.  M'AU  and  many  of  the  stajff  of  the  Mission,  many 
French  pastors  and  other  Protestants,  and  a  large  number  of 
the  people  of  the  various  mission  stations  where  the  deceased 
had  laboured,  were  present.  Indeed,  the  large  church  was 
filled,  and  by  a  sympathetic  and  deeply  affected  audience. 
The  coffin  was  brought  into  the  church,  and  the  services  were 
as  was  fitting,  conducted  in  the  French  manner.  They  were 
most  appropriate  and  impressive  throughout,  but  I  can  only 
give  a  very  brief  account  of  them.  After  introductory  services 
and  a  brief  address  by  a  pastor,  a  plaintive  hymn  was  sung. 


Funeral.  381 


the  closing  lines  of  which  reminded  us  that  he  was  not  lost 
but  gone  before.  Pastor  Theodore  Monod  then  ascended  the 
pulpit,  and  delivered  a  beautiful  and  touching  address.  He 
told  us  that  the  disaster  has  arisen  from  no  recklessness  on 
the  part  of  the  deceased ;  for  he  had  twice  examined  the 
mushrooms  before  they  were  eaten,  and  the  servant  also  had 
examined  them.  He  told  us  that  he  died  in  perfect  peace, 
with  a  radiant  smile,  relying  on  that  Saviour  he  had  so  ear- 
nestly preached  to  others.  He  pointed  out  that  he  had 
finished  his  brief  ministry  at  about  the  same  age  (32)  as  our 
Saviour  Himself.  He  quoted  the  words  of  the  country  doctor 
that  he  has  fallen  like  a  soldier  in  the  breach ;  and  affectionately 
addressed  the  mourning  relatives,  Mr.  M'AU,  and  the  other 
workers  of  the  Mission  and  the  people  of  the  various  stations, 
exhorting  the  latter,  in  the  name  of  Mr.  Dodds,  to  decide  for 
Christ.  The  Eev.  Mr.  Hitchcock,  minister  of  the  American 
Chapel,  followed  with  a  most  fitting  tribute  in  English,  and 
the  Eev.  E.  H.  Muir,  of  Dalmeny,  closed  with  an  impressive 
prayer.  The  long  funeral  procession  then  proceeded  by  the  Eue 
de  Eivoli  and  the  Place  de  la  Concorde,  and  the  back  of  the 
Trocadero,  to  the  cemetery  at  Passy.  The  coffin  was  sur- 
rounded by  bouquets  of  beautiful  flowers.  The  people  of  the 
Mission,  to  the  number  of  several  hundreds,  followed  all  the 
long  distance  on  foot,  many  of  them  sacrificing  a  day's  wages 
they  could  ill  afford  to  lose  to  show  their  sorrow  for  the  loss 
of  one  who  had  loved  them  so  well.  As  the  sad  procession 
passed  along  every  head  in  the  busy  streets  was  uncovered. 
At  the  grave  the  Eev.  Messrs.  Monod  and  Cook  again  con- 
ducted a  brief  service,  and  Pastor  Hocart,  of  the  French 
Wesleyan  church,  delivered  an  address  full  of  Christian  con- 
solation. The  relatives  present  were  Mr.  Dodds'  father,  his 
two  little  sons,  his  brother,  and  his  brother-in-law.  The  ser- 
vices at  the  grave  were  closed  by  singing  '  Pour  toujours  avec 
lui,'  the  French  version  of  '  For  ever  with  the  Lord.'  Here 
again,  as  in  the  church,   many  were  in  tears.     It  has  never 


382        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  7!  Dodds. 

been  my  lot  to  attend  a  funeral  where  the  grief  was  so  evi- 
dent and  so  general.  Yet  he  was  laid  in  the  dust  not  with 
the  sorrow  of  those  who  have  no  hope.  A  strain  of  Christian 
faith  and  hoj^e  pervaded  the  services  and  helped  to  cheer  our 
hearts.  We  lingered,  as  unwilling  to  depart,  and  night  was 
falling  when  we  left  the  cemetery. 

"  Scotland  gave  a  noble  son  to  France  in  Mr.  Dodds.  And 
now  she  can  best  honour  his  memory  by  caring  more  than 
ever  for  the  work  to  which  he  gave  himself  and  for  which  he 
died.  He  wore  himself  out  in  the  evangelisation  of  France, 
addressing  in  French,  English,  and  German  as  many  as  eight 
meetings  a- week  ;  for  he  saw  so  much  to  be  done  and  so  few 
to  do  it.  Even  in  private  intercourse  he  spoke  of  his  work 
rather  than  of  anything  else.  Will  not  some  noble-hearted 
young  men  feel  stirred  up  to  step  forward  and  occupy  the 
place  of  this  gallant  soldier  of  the  cross  ?  From  all  we  know 
of  him  we  have  lost  this  is  the  result  of  his  death  that  would 
have  pleased  him  best.  There  is  a  great  field  here  for  Christian 
workers,  and  partly  in  the  hope  that  some  may  be  led  to  turn 
their  attention  to  it,  I  have  penned  these  hasty  and  imperfect 
lines,  only  regretting  that  they  are  not  more  worthy  of  him 
whose  early  and  unexpected  removal  has  been  the  sad  occasion 
of  them." 

There  were  no  "last  words"  in  the  usual  sense; 
no  dying  testimony.  His  strength  was  gone.  He 
could  not  speak.  He  could  only  give  his  assent  to 
the  words  of  faith  addressed  to  him.  But  his  life 
was  the  true  testimony;  and  his  believing  labour 
during  the  past  five  years  was  enough  to  show  his 
consecration  of  spirit  to  the  Master  and  His  work. 
Nothing  more  was  needed. 


Thoughts  in  the  Valley,  383 

Some  who  loved  him,  and  who  knew  that  his  whole 
heart  was  in  his  work,  could  not  help  asking  them- 
.  selves, — would  it  not  have  cost  him  a  bitter  pang  if 
he  had  known  that  he  was  about  to  leave  it,  and  to 
leave  it  so  soon  ?  Would  he  have  been  willing  to 
exchange  his  hard  but  hapj)y  life-work  for  his 
Master,  even  to  depart  and  be  with  Him  ?  Would 
he  not  have  said,  had  the  choice  been  given  him, 
"  I  am  in  a  strait  betwixt  two,  having  a  desire  to 
depart  and  to  be  with  Christ,  which  is  far  better : 
nevertheless  to  abide  in  the  flesh  is  more  needful  for 
you"  (Phil.  i.  23).  But  the  choice  was  not  given. 
The  future,  though  so  very  near,  was  hidden  from  him  ; 
yet  even  amid  his  prostration  of  body  and  spirit, 
he  had  perhaps  the  solemn  but  quiet  presentiment 
of  a  speedy  departure,  and  was  enabled  to  cast  him- 
self, his  family,  his  beloved  ouvriers,  and  his  whole 
work  upon  the  Lord.  What  passed  within  him  in 
these  silent  days  of  utter  helplessness,  when  all  his 
strength  was  needed  to  enable  him  to  endure  pain, 
we  know  not.  But  what  we  know  not  now  we  shall 
know  hereafter ;  when  the  mysteries  of  that  strange 
and  lonely  deathbed, — that  premature  departure, — 
shall  be  made  known  to  us ;  and  he  himself  shall  tell 
us  what  thoughts  were  passing  through  his  mind  as 
he  lay  tossing  in  weariness  from  day  to  day,  unable  to 
utter  either  his  joy  or  his  sorrow.     "  I  am  learning 


384        Memoir  of  Rev.  G,  T,  Dodds. 

many  lessons"  is  an  expression  which  occurs  once 
and  again  in  his  letters ;  and  it  came  up  again  on 
his  deathbed ;  being  one  of  the  few  low  utterances 
that  were  audible.  He  could  not  speak  out  to  tell 
what  the  lessons  were,  but  he  was  learning  them  to 
the  last,  and  listening  to  "  the  still  small  voice  "  of 
the  Comforter,  when  incapable  of  hearing  any  other. 
A  glimpse  of  what,  perhaps,  was  passing  through 
him  we  get  in  the  following  letter  from  a  young 
friend  who  worked  with  him  in  the  previous  spring: — 
'•'  Do  you  know  that  the  last  Sunday  that  I  walked 
with  Mr.  Dodds  to  the  Grenelle  hall  we  talked  of 
nothing  all  the  way  but  of  going  to  be  with  Christ. 

He  began  the  subject,  saying  suddenly, '  Miss 

do  you  think  about  dying  as  much  as  ever  ? "  I  said 
yes,  because  I  thought  it  must  be  far  better  than 
living;  and  I  added  something  which  made  him 
smile.  '  You  must  not '  (he  said)  '  allow  yourself  to 
be  carried  away  by  your  fancies  too  much ;  still, 
I  do  think  that  none  of  us  realises  the  glory  that  is 
before  us.'  I  asked.  What  does  glory  mean  ?  and  he 
answered,  '  That  which  will  perfectly  satisfy.'  Then 
came  a  question, — perhaps  I  ought  not  to  have  asked 
it,  but  I  could  not  help  it, — 'Mr.  Dodds,  do  you 
mean  that  you  would  like  to  die  ? '  'I  should  like 
to  do  God's  will,'  he  answered.  '  Yes ;  but  suppos- 
ing it  was   God's  will   for  you  to  die  ? '      *  Then  I 


Hopes  arid  Prospects.  385 

should  indeed  be  rejoiced.'  His  face  was  all  lighted 
up,  I  remember,  as  he  said  this ;  and  selfishly  enough 
I  cried  out,  '  Oh,  I  hope  you  won't  though.' " 

This  was  a  rare  instance  in  which  he  spoke  of 
death ;  though  he  often  spoke  of  the  Lord's  coming. 
He  had  no  morbid  wish  for  the  grave,  nor  presenti- 
ment of  early  death.  Rather  were  all  his  plans  and 
anticipations  those  of  one  looking  forward  to  long  life 
and  usefulness.  Perhaps  he  would  have  been  less 
surprised  had  these  plans  been  cut  short  by  the 
Lord's  coming,  than  in  the  way  they  were. 

The  same  friend  continues : — "  The  first  time  I 
ventured  to  tell  him  about  what  I  felt,  and  to  ask 
him  questions,  he  said  :  '  I  think  we  ought  to  rejoice 
in  the  thought  of  the  Lord's  coming ;  I  like  to  wait 
and  watch.'  '  Then,  if  you  rejoice  at  the  thought  of 
Christ's  coming  to  you,  don't  you  rejoice  at  the 
thought  of  your  going  to  Christ?'  He  replied, 
'  You  mean  death.  The  Bible  does  not  speak  so 
much  of  that.  But  in  either  case,  we  shall  be  with 
Christ,  and  that  is  the  chief  thing.' " 

Many  will  remember   the   last   meetings   in  the 

summer  of  1882.     They  were  remarkable.     "  I  go  to 

Crenelle"  (writes  a  worker  a  year  afterwards),  "every 

Sunday  night.     The  meeting  is  smaller  now  than  it 

used  to  be ;  but,  oh,  it  is  good  to  see  some  of  those 

who  decided  for  Christ  last  year,  so  steadfast  and  so 

'     2  c 


386         Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds. 

happy."  But  several  have  already  gone  up  to  join 
their  teacher :  not  only  the  old  man  at  Gare  d'lvry,  and 
the  children's  friend,  Madame  Tamajo,  but  others  * 
Yet  most,  of  course,  still  remain  here,  and  speak  in 
tears  of  their  love  and  their  loss.  "  One  nice  man," 
writes  Miss  C,  "  told  us  with  tears  he  had  lost  his 
best  friend ;  that  he  had  never  loved  any  one  as  he 
loved  Mr.  Dodds.  This  was  the  man  whom  Mr. 
Dodds  visited  that  last  Saturday  night  at  Grenelle." 
And  some  months  after  Mr.  M'All  writes  : — "  I  was  at 
Grenelle  last  Thursday.  At  the  close  of  the  meeting 
one  and  another  came  round  me  to  speak  of  him 
with  the  tenderest  affection.  One  of  them,  a  tall, 
stalwart,  well-dressed  workman,  came  up  with  his 
wife.  The  wife  traced  her  conversion  to  the  meet- 
ings of  Lord  Radstock.  The  husband  said,  with  the 
deepest  feeling,  '  Mr.  Dodds  was  my  spiritual  father ; 
I  shall  never,  never  forget  him.'     I  believe  this  man 


*  Later  on  (14th  July,  1883)  Miss  M.  writes: — "Some  over 
whom  we  rejoiced  last  summer  have  been  called  home, — two  poor 
women  at  Grenelle,  and  Madame  Vignon,  the  tall  widow  at  St. 
Honord,  who  never  would  give  her  address.  She  lived  near  St. 
Philippe  de  Roule,  and  all  her  family  were  in  the  church,  but  you 
know  she  never  missed  being  at  St.  Honord  for  months  last  year." 

And  another  writes  also  : — "  A  Grenelle  woman  told  me  she  had 
been  incrhdule,  but  that  '  Cher  Monsieur  Dodds  '  had  made  her  see 
everything  differently,  that  now  she  knew  that  her  sins  were 
pardoned ;  and  she  ended  so  sweetly,  *  Ah  je  I'ai  beau  coup 
pleurd'" 


The  Oratoire  Gatherings.  ^i^"] 

was  one  of  those  at  Grenelle  who  received  Christ 
during  the  last  days  in  which  our  dear  departed  one 
worked  there,  just  before  he  left  for  Salbris." 

As  Mr.  Moody's  visit  to  Paris  was  one  of  the  last 
things  of  which  Mr.  Dodds  spoke  when  he  was  laid 
prostrate,  I  may  here  add  a  few  sentences  regarding 
it — -though,  in  doing  so,  I  am  anticipating  a  little. 
It  took  place  just  about  a  month  after  Mr.  Dodds' 
death.  Mr.  Dodds  had  hoped  to  be  at  these 
gatherings ;  though  I  doubt  whether,  even  if  he  had 
been  spared,  his  strength  would  have  been  equal  to 
the  strain.  Some  movement  that  would  draw 
English,  American,  and  French  Christians  together, 
uniting  them  in  one  earnest  effort  that  would  tell, 
not  on  Paris  only,  but  on  all  France; — this  was 
what  his  heart  was  set  upon.  But  this  was  what 
he  was  denied.  How  much  he  would  have  rejoiced 
in  the  immense  gatherings  in  the  Oratoire,  and  still 
more  in  joining  the  song  of  the  multitude  night 
after  night, — we  may  imagine.  How  eagerly  and 
wisely  he  would  have  ministered  to  the  inquirers 
that  flocked  around,  telling  them  the  good  news  in 
his  own  terse  and  explicit  way,  and  patiently  an- 
swering all  their  questions  and  doubts,  we  may  con- 
ceive.    But  at  present  all  that  is  hidden  from  us. 

The  following  account  is  from  a  letter  of  one  of 
the  workers,  dated  23rd  October,  1882  : — - 


388         Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


"Paris,  23rcZ  October,  1882. 

"  The  last  fortniglit,  as  you  know,  was  '  Moody  and  Sankey 
fortnight,'  three  meetings  a-day,  besides  two  after-meetings, 
and  rushes  down  to  our  '  parishes '  to  get  up  French  or  English 
audiences,  and  various  other  matters  between  keep  us  all  fright- 
fully busy  till  near  midnight, 

"  Moody  was  doubtful  at  first  about  the  French  meetings,  and 
did  not  like  to  be  translated ;  but  after  the  two  days  of  trial 
he  went  on  for  a  week,  and  was  so  delighted  with  the  en- 
thusiasm of  the  French  especially  that  he  declared  he  would 
have,  if  young,  given  his  life  to  France. 

"  I  watched  the  5000  crammed  into  the  old  church  of  the 
Oratoire, — queer  old  place, — and  yesterday  (Sunday)  every 
seat  and  available  standing  room  was  filled  ;  for  some  time  the 
people  refusing  to  leave.  Mr.  Moody  said  he  had  never  seen 
such  an  audience, — they  would  not  go  home,  and  he  almost 
thought  of  beginning  another  sermon.  It  was  grand  to  hear 
the  swelling  '  Hallelujah  !  what  a  Saviour  ! '  '  Hallelujah  ! 
quel  bon  Sauveur  ! '  taken  up  in  English  and  French  together 
as  the  chorus,  and  so  on  with  other  hymns.  It  was  strange, 
but  touching  and  remarkable,  that  the  platform  of  the  choir 
led  by  Sankey  was  placed  exactly  over  the  last  resting-place 
on  earth  of  dear  Mr.  Dodds.  His  coffin  stood  there  during  the 
funeral  service,  and  the  songs  of  triumph  seem  to  rise  with 
his  spirit  from  that  spot  in  the  centre  of  the  hall. 

"  Workmen  and  others  from  most  of  the  M'All  halls  were 
there,  and  joined  heartily  in  the  singing  ;  indeed,  but  for  them 
the  choir  alone  would  have  sung;  but  the  general  way  in 
which  the  singing  was  taken  up  in  French,  showed  the 
numbers  who  came  from  the  M'All  reunions.  Many  received 
blessing  and  conversion,  or  assurance  they  had  not  enjoyed 
before,  and  the  effect  on  the  pastors,  evangelists,  Protestants, 
and  Catholics,  seemed  very  great,  quite  a  stir  in  many  quarters. 
There  were  many  of  the  upper  classes  present,  and  conversions 


The  Oratoii-e  Gatherings.  389 

ir  !,,7--'^°;'»>^f"g-i-o°m  left-with  English  and  French 
M.  Thfodore  Monod  translated  exceedingly  well." 

Here  is  another — 

<,  .      .  ^     ,  "  Paris,  24(A  OdoUr. 

As  night  after  night  we  stood  or  sat  in  that  great  assemblv 
m  the  grand  old  church  of  the  Oratoire,  wher  Tfew  w"e"' 
ago  we  mourned  for  hin.  who  has  been  taken  from  us  llo^d 
not  help  thinking  of  life  from  the  dead  .■  and  how,  thought 
sorely  missed  here,  as  many  testified  in  these  grank  meeting 
he  was  rejoicing  in  this  reaping  time.  On  the  very  spot  where 
the  coffin  rested,  on  the  14th  September,  a  dear  woman  of 
St.  Honors,  for  whom  Mr.  Dodds  had  prayed  specially  told 
usaatshe  had  found  the  Saviour  :<  A[  trou'vTmlet 
ant  She  said  Mr.  Dodds  had  helped  her  so  much.  It  was 
good  to  see  her  peace  and  joy. 

"It  was  most  touching  to  hear  the  whole  assembly  join  in 

he  chorus :  'Take  me  as  I  am,'  'Prends  moi  tel  que  j    suis" 

n  bo  h  languages,  then  separately.     'All  the  English!'  now 

AH  the  French!'   Mr.  Moody  by  this  time,  strnding  on  a 

char  right  m  the  middle  of  the  church,  keeping  timt  with 

both  hands,  his  countenance  beaming  with  joy.  Vou  wou  d 

have  rejoiced  to  see  R^veillaud,  Hirsch,  Meyer,  Cooke,  al  o 

beaming  and  joimng  heart  and  soul  in  the  Refrain  ;h  e 

exchanging  glances  of  satisfaction  and  wonder.    It  was  a  scene 

never  to  be  forgotten,  and  such  as  the  stately  old  church  Z 

never  witnessed  before.      That  night,  however,  the  crowl 

night  when  there  was  a  great  deal  of  personal  dealing." 

A   Single    sentence    more    as   to    these   pecuKar 
scenes ; — 


390        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


"On  the  platform  where  the  coflBn  had  rested,  the  choir 
stood  and  sang  praise,  during  those  meetings,  and  there  the 
anxious  ones  came  forward  to  be  spoken  to.  Two  sisters,  well- 
dressed,  were  seen  sitting  on  the  step  weeping  bitterly.  *  Are 
you  weeping  for  your  sins  V  said  a  worker.  '  Oh  no — they  are 
pardoned.  We  are  weeping  at  the  thought  of  dear  Mr.  Dodds.' 
'Was  it  by  his  means  you  were  brought  to  Christ]'  'We 
have  attended  the  Grenelle  meeting  regularly,  and  helped  the 
singing,  ever  since  he  used  to  go  there,  but  it  was  his  death 
that  brought  us  to  Christ.' " 

The  marble  monument  subsequently  erected  by 
the  subscriptions  of  more  than  a  thousand  of  his- 
Paris  ouvriers  is  a  testimony  to  their  affection.  The 
little  Passy  cemetery  in  which  it  stands  will  be 
visited  by  many  from  other  lands  who  knew  and  loved 
him  personally;  as  also  by  the  many  more  who,  though 
not  knowing  himself,  knew  his  work.  Many  Con- 
tinental cemeteries  contain  the  ashes  of  Scotchmen, — 
Leghorn,  Rome,  Clarens,  Geneva.  Here  is  another. 
The  Scot  has  been  "abroad"  in  more  ways  than  one, 
and  for  more  services  than  one.  Here  is  a  spot 
which  he  occupies  with  singular  honour.  Of  such 
sons  Scotland  has  no  reason  to  be  ashamed.  In 
monuments  like  these  she  may  truly  rejoice.  The 
"  Monumentum  sere  perennius  "  is  to  be  found  in  his 
self-denying  work  among  the  poor.  Number  up  the 
stations  throughout  France  ;  number  up,  if  you  can, 
the  souls  gathered  in ;  number  up,  if  you  can,  the 
blessings  which  have  been  poured  upon  his  memory 


Memorial  Servians  and  Letters.       391 

from  the  loving  ouvriers  whom  he  led  out  of  unbelief 
into  faith,  out  of  darkness  into  light ;  and  then  say, 
"  Si  monumentum  quseris  circumspice." 

But  I  return  to  the  narrative.  The  scene  in  the 
Oratoire  will  not  soon  be  forgotten.  The  pro- 
cession of  humble  ouvriers  through  the  streets  of 
Paris  has  told  upon  many.  The  inscription  on 
the  marble  tombstone  has  been  read  by  many, 
and  will  be  read  by  many  more.  The  tears  shed 
over  his  grave  will  bear  witness  to  the  affection 
with  which  he  was  regarded.  The  whole  array  of 
events  and  circumstances,  both  of  his  life  and  death, 
— so  singular  and  sad, — so  out  of  the  common  beat, — 
will  perpetuate  his  memory  and  make  spectators  ask, 
some  in  faith  and  some  in  despondency,  Why  was  it 
thus  ?  So,  doubtless,  reasoned  and  mourned  the 
disciples  over  the  Baptist's  early  grave.  Yet  no 
sooner  was  he  taken  than  twelve  were  sent  out  to 
preach  the  Gospel,  and  to  lift  up  the  standard  that 
had  dropped  from  his  hand. 

On  the  following  Sabbath,  Dr.  Masson,  of  Edin- 
burgh, preached  in  the  Scotch  Church,  and  gave  a 
loving  testimony  to  the  character  of  his  departed 
fellow-countryman.  Dr.  Masson  was  among  the  first 
that  called  attention  to  the  M'All  Mission,  some 
eight  or  nine  years  ago,  in  a  long  and  most  graphic 
letter  to  the  editor  of  the  Scotsman ;  and  he  has  all 


392        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

along  manifested  his  interest  in  the  work.  The 
funeral  sermon  for  Mr.  Dodds  came  very  appropriately 
from  his  lips. 

Mr.  Campbell,  of  Aberdeen,  for  some  time  labour- 
ing in  Paris  as  Scotch  minister,  took  a  deep  interest 
in  the  work,  and  wrote  most  touchingly  concerning 
the  death  of  one  to  whom  he  was  deeply  attached, 
and  who,  I  have  good  reason  to  know,  was  no  less 
deeply  attached  to  him.  Let  me  give  part  of  his 
letters  to  one  of  the  Aberdeen  journals  : — 

"  He  threw  himself  into  the  work  with  extraordinary  enthu- 
siasm, though  his  enthusiasm  was  always  directed  by  a  singu- 
larly clear,  calm,  cool  judgment.  In  a  very  short  time  he 
acquired  such  a  knowledge  of  the  French  language  that  he 
could  speak  it  with  the  greatest  fluency,  showing  a  perfect 
mastery  both  of  its  perplexing  idioms  and  subtle  accent. 
While  devoting  his  chief  energy  to  the  special  work  of  the  M'All 
Mission  in  Paris,  he  made  his  influence  to  be  felt  by  all  the 
Protestant  Churches  of  France,  many  of  whose  clergy  would, 
I  know,  gladly  acknowledge  how  much  they  have  owed  to 
his  sage  counsels  and  the  contagion  of  his  Christian  zeal. 

"Mr.  Dodds  combined  in  a  degree  rarely  to  be  met  with 
breadth  of  view  and  intensity  of  conviction.  He  himself  had 
a  clear  vision  of  the  truth — he  himself  stood  upon  a  rock,  but 
none  were  more  kindly,  more  sympathetic  in  dealing,  as  few 
were  better  qualified  to  deal,  with  those  who  were  still  groping 
— still  tempest  tossed.  His  power  of  work  was  amazing.  The 
work  he  crowded  into  his  day  made  it  difficult  often  to  beheve 
that  his  day  had  only  twenty-four  hours  in  it,  like  other 
people's.  Yet,  however  busy  he  was — and  he  could  not  be 
but  busy;  with  one  meeting  at  least  every  day,  except  Satur- 


Memorial  Letters.  393 

day,  often  two,  always  three  on  Sunday,  a  vast  correspondence, 
the  principal  charge  after  Mr.  M'All  of  all  the  Mission  stations 
in  Paris  and  its  immediate  neighbourhood  (there  are  nearly 
forty  of  them),  a  magazine  to  edit,  and  much  other  literary 
work— he  always  found  time  to  spare  to  enter  with  the  keenest 
interest  into  all  that  interested  his  friends,  and,  if  they  were 
in  trouble,  to  help  them.  For  the  English-speaking  ministers 
in  Paris,  it  somehow  seemed  the  most  natural  thing  in  the 
world  when  they  were  in  any  difficulty,  wanting  some  one  to 
lecture  or  some  one  to  preach,  to  apply  to  Mr.  Dodds.  He 
never  failed  them.  Whatever  his  own  burden  might  be,  he 
could  always  take  a  lift  — a  good  lift  — of  his  neighbour's 
burden. 

"  He  will  be  greatly  missed  in  Paris  ;  he  will  be  missed  by 
the  whole  Anglo-American  community,  by  whom  he  was 
universally  respected  and  beloved ;  he  will  be  especially 
missed  by  the  members  of  the  Scotch  Church,  where  he  him- 
self worshipped  and  often  officiated  both  as  minister  and 
elder ;  he  will  be  missed  by  the  French  Protestant  Churches, 
whose  interests  he  did  so  much  to  advance  ;  he  will  be  missed 
all  through  France  by  men  in  all  ranks  to  whom  the  Gospel 
as  preached  by  his  lips  came  charged  with  a  message  from 
God ;  he  will  be  missed  by  a  wide  circle  of  friends  in  Scot- 
land, England,  and  America,  to  whom  his  home  in  Paris, 
where  he  dispensed  a  simple  hospitality  with  so  rare  a  grace, 
was  always  open ;  of  how  he  will  be  missed  by  a  narrower 
circle — wife  and  children — I  cannot  trust  myself  to  speak. 

"  But  it  is  the  M'All  Mission  that  will  most  feel  his  loss. 
The  faith  and  Christian  courage  of  its  director  are,  it  is  well 
known,  equal  to  almost  any  strain,  but  I  do  greatly  fear  the 
effect  upon  his  health  of  such  a  blow  as  is  implied  for  him  in 
the  death  of  Mr.  Dodds,  who  was  as  his  right  hand.  I  do  not 
believe  that  the  work  will  permanently  suffer.  We  are  often 
ready  to  say  of  a  work  that  it  hangs  upon  this  man  or  that, 


394        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

and  God  takes  them  away  just  to  teach  the  Church  that  it 
hangs  upon  Him.  Still  the  death  of  Mr.  Dodds  will  un- 
doubtedly be  a  great  blow  to  the  Mission,  abeady  under- 
manned. But  it  may  be  that  some  who,  though  they  heard 
the  voice  of  my  lamented  friend  pleading  eloquently  for  the 
Mission  to  which  he  had  devoted  his  life  gave  no  response, 
will  feel  that  they  cannot  resist  the  voice  that  comes  from  his 
grave.  It  is  in  some  such  hope  as  this  I  pen  these  words  and 
ask  of  you  a  place  for  them. 

"Duncan  Campbell, 
"  late.  Chaplain  of  the  Scotch  Church,  Paris. 

"7  Hamilton  Place,  I2th  September,  1882." 

My  old  and  very  dear  friend,  Dr.  A.  N.  Somerville, 

late  of  Glasgow,  but  now  "  evangelist  of  the  world," 

wrote  to  me  on  the  occasion.     He  had  been  in  Paris 

more  than  once,  and  had  seen  the  Mission  and  the 

workers.    His  affectionate  letter  I  must  give  entire  : — 

"Mansefield,  Broughty-Ferey, 
nth  September,  1882. 

"  My  Dear  Friend,  —  This  is  a  dreadful  blow  that  has 
fallen  on  us  all.  "We  were  stunned  as  we  read  in  the  Dundee 
Advertiser  this  morning  of  the  unexpected  departure  from 
among  us  of  your  dear  son-in-law.  Jesus  has  received  him. 
Yet,  what  a  stroke  this  is  on  wife  and  children,  on  Mr. 
M'All,  on  France,  and,  I  will  say,  on  the  Church  at  large  ! 

"  Mr,  Dodds'  astonishing  energy,  his  zeal  and  good  sense, 
his  rapidly-acquired  mastery  of  the  French  language,  his 
ability  in  conducting  meetings  and  in  managing,  along  with 
Mr.  M'All,  such  a  gigantic  undertaking  as  that  to  which  the 
Mission  has  grown,  as  well  as  the  sound  evangelical  strain  of 
his   addresses,  commended  him  to  the   admiration   and  the 


Memorial  Letters.  395 


affection,  too,  of  all  who  knew  him.     I  feel  for  Mr.  M'All. 
His  heart  must  be  sinking  in  this  hour  of  bereavement. 

"  Alike  in  France  and  when  abroad,  Mr.  Dodds'  indefatig- 
able activity  and  genial  manner  did  much  to  promote  the 
general  interests  of  the  Mission.  In  five  short  years,  and 
while  yet  in  his  youth,  Mr.  Dodds  had  attained  to  great  emi- 
nence as  a  labourer  for  the  welfare  of  a  whole,  country.  We 
tenderly  sympathise  with  Mrs.  Dodds  and  the  fatherless. 
Your  own  heart  and  that  of  Mrs.  Bonar  must  be  bowed  with 
grief.  Private  sorrow  is,  however,  almost  swallowed  up  in 
the  greatness  of  public  loss.  The  Lord  liveth.  Our  eyes 
must  be  set  on  Him.  He,  who  has  so  suddenly  bereft,  must  be 
our  stay.  He  has  consolation  to  give  in  the  darkest  hour. 
I  am  here  for  a  day  or  two  with  my  son.  With  warm  affec- 
tion, I  am,  yours  always,  A.  N.  Somerville." 

From  Mr.  M'All  I  received  the  following  warm  and 

touching  letter : — 

"  Paris,  Uth  September,  1882. 
"  My  Dear  Dr.  Bonar, — My  heart  fails  me  as  I  seek  to 
write  to  you.  I  am  sure  you  know  already  what  I  would 
fain  tell  you  of  the  affection  I  bore  to  your  dear  son-in-law,  of 
the  intimately  close  tie  I  felt  to  subsist  'between  us,  cemented 
by  a  considerate,  self-oblivious  course  of  action  on  his  part 
towards  me,  such  as  only  a  loving  confidence,  of  which  I  ever 
felt  myself  but  too  unworthy,  could  have  dictated.  It  is, 
indeed,  one  of  my  own — my  right  hand — that  God  has  thus 
mysteriously  taken  away.  For  the  great  work,  he  was  its 
spiritual  force  and  centre,  its  hope,  its  future,  so  we  all 
deemed  !  Daily  he  became  more  and  more  a  wise  and  far- 
seeing  counsellor.  Alas  !  howl  feel  myself  left  alone  ;  human 
help  fails.  He,  who  has  taken  away,  alone  can  interpose.  It 
is  true  that  my  dear  colleague  had  exerted  himself  immensely 
during  my  absence.     His  zeal  had  superabounded,  his  after- 


396        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds, 


meetings  had  awakened  deep  interest,  and  were  yielding  evi- 
dent spiritual  fruits,  his  little  time  of  needed  repose  had  fully- 
come  ;  but,  on  my  return,  I  found  him  full  of  hope  and  force, 
only  looking  pale  and  somewhat  worn.  On  any  human  esti- 
mate, had  he  not  been  permitted  to  take  that  poison,  bo  unsus- 
pectingly, he  would  to-day  be  looking  onward  to  his  speedy 
return  to  the  work  he  loved  so  much.  The  very  last  words 
lie  spoke  to  me,  on  the  night  before  his  departure,  were  full 
of  cheerful  anticipation. 

"  I  cannot  tell  you  how  deeply  he  had  come  to  be  esteemed 
and  prized  and  loved  by  the  people  of  our  various  meetings. 
In  the  stations  to  which  his  chief  care  was  given  he  had 
become,  indeed,  a  spiritual  guide  and  overseer.  I  observed 
also  that,  in  every  case,  where  he  was  enabled  to  give  special 
attention,  the  work,  by  God's  blessing,  prospered.  He  had 
also  won  a  very  large  share  of  warm  affection  from  the  French 
pastors.  They  had  come  to  recognise  his  great  abilities  and 
Ills  true  devotion.  But  you  know  all  this  already.  Still,  it 
is  a  kind  of  relief  to  recount  it  to  you. 

''What  shall  I  say  respecting  what  he  was  in  the  inn&r 
circle^  or  what  he  was  to  me  ?  I  have  often  wondered  how  he 
bore  with  me  in  many  things,  how  patient  he  was,  how  con- 
siderate when  our  estimate  of  any  point  might  differ.  We 
feel,  indeed,  that  one  of  our  ow7i  is  taken  away — my  right 
hand.  I  can  say  no  less  !  From  the  first  day  of  his  arrival 
in  Paris  to  the  last  hour  he  was  unwaveringly  faithful  to  the 
work  and  to  its  direction.  I  always  felt  and  delighted  to 
say,  '  I  have  in  him  one  in  whom  I  can  confide  absolutely, 
without  a  shadow  of  reserve.' 

"  Our  heart  bleeds  for  dear  Mrs.  Dodds,  but  we  know  that 
the  Divine  arm  will  be  around  her  and  the  little  children.  I 
cannot  tell  you,  dear  Dr.  Bonar,  what  we  feel  for  you  and 
Mrs.  Bonar,  words  fail  me  altogether.  I  would  rather  press 
your  hand  in  silence,  while  we  silently  commend  each  other 


Memorial  L  etters.  397 

and  the  smitten  family,  and  tlie  work  so  dear  to  us,  to  Him 
who  alone  sees  beyond  this  mystery  of  mysteries. 

"  Receive,  dear  Dr.  Bonar,  for  Mrs.  Bonar,  for  yourself, 
for  your  family,  the  assurance  of  our  true  affection  in  Jesus 
Christ,  and  of  our  prayer  that  His  precious  love  may  be  the 
balm  of  your  hearts  in  this  mournful  hour  ! — Ever  yours, 

"K  W.  M'All." 

One  of  his  fellow-workers,  Mr.  John  Robertson,  had 
frequent  opportunities  of  becoming  most  intimately 
acquainted  with  him.      Not  long  before  his  death 
they  were  returning  together  from  a  late  meeting 
at  Gare   d'lvry,  and   as   they  were  walking   along 
Mr.  Dodds  complained  to  his  friend  of  his  extreme 
weariness  of  body,  saying  "  I  am  so  tired  to-night." 
This  brief  expression  of  exhaustion  Mr.  Robertson 
remembered  after  his  death,  and  expanded  into  the 
following  vivid  and  tender  lines : — 
"  TIRED. 
"  In  Memoriam. 
"  I  'm  so  tired  to-night."— 2%e  late  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 
"  0  Master,  I  am  tired,  so  tired  to-night, 

So  fierce  the  fray  each  weary  hour  from  mom, 
So  heavy,  heavy  felt  the  armour  worn — 
I  drag  myself,  dear  Master,  from  the  fight, — 
Tired,  so  tired  ! 

"  Hadst  Tliou  not  met  me  in  the  morning  here, 
And  given  that  kiss  of  love  before  I  went, 
That  little  hour  of  sweet  communion  spent 
Alone  with  Thee,  I  would  have  dropped,  I  fear, — 
Tired,  so  tired  ! 


39^        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

''  But  that  kept  with  me  as  I  faced  the  foe, 

The  lingering  thrill  of  Thine  embrace  of  love, 
The  strength  of  one  at  least,  to  raise  ahove 
The  Babel  sounds  a  voice  for  Thee,  although 
Tired,  so  tired  ! 

"Ah,  me,  the  Sodom  throng  that  pressed  and  yelled  ; 
Ah  me,  th'  enfeebling  blow  and  dimming  aim  ; 
Ah  me,  the  hellish  hate  to  that  dear  name, 
That  told  who  gave  the  flashing  blade  I  held, 
Tired,  so  tired  ! 

"  And  not  unwounded,  Lord — the  darts  so  fast 
Did  pierce  me  deep,  and  paining  here  and  here. 
Wound  after  wound — Ah,  Lord,  the  shuddering  fear 
Of  failure  and  of  falling  mine  at  last. 
Tired,  so  tired  ! 

"  But  for  a  moment  only,  swift  the  eye 

And  heart  were  upward,  and  I  saw  Thee  stand 
For  me,  as  Stephen  did,  at  God's  right  hand  ; 
For  me,  for  me,  Thy  victory -place  on  high. 
Tired,  so  tired  ! 

"And  it  is  over  now  ;  the  'rest  awhile,' 

Dear  Master,  now  I  seek — give  me  that  rest 
So  soft,  so  sweet,  so  gentle,  on  Thy  breast. 
The  lying  down  with  Thine  approving  smile. 
Tired,  so  tired  ! 

"  Thou  giv'st,  dear  Master,  peace.  Thine  own  deep  peace 
Is  mine  to-night — oh,  joy  for  me  to  be 
Thus  calmly  waiting  yon  eternity, 
"When  fighting,  fearing,  fainting,  all  shall  cease — 
Tired,  so  tired  ! 


Synipath  ies.  399 


"  Ah,  yes,  dear  Lord,  soon,  soon  the  tumult  wild 
Of  this  earth's  struggle  over  ;  at  my  gate 
I  '11  see  Thy  heavenward  Israel-chariot  wait, 
And  hear  Thy  '  Now  come  home  with  Me,  My  child,' 
'  Tired,  so  tired  ! ' 

^  ^  ^  %  ^  %  -^ 

"  And  now  we  've  seen  it  come,  and  upward  he 

Has  mounted  with  the  King,  and  we  below 

Strain  anxious  eyes  to  see  our  brother  throw 

His  mantle  downward — 0  our  God  to  see  ! 

Tired,  so  tired ! 

"  Yes,  weary  we  too,  Master— sorely  pressed 
On  every  hand,  and  now  our  fainting  soul 
Lifts  prayer  to  Thee  for  help— is  not  the  whole 
Work  Thine  ?     Then  help  !     It  comes  !— now,  brother, 
rtzt  I 

Tired,  so  tired  ! " 

"J.  R." 


Widely  had  the  Mission  made  itself  known  in 
all  parts  of  the  world,  and  well  had  its  workers  been 
appreciated.  But  the  death,  so  strange  and  sad 
in  all  its  circumstances,  made  it  still  more  widely 
known,  sendiog  out  the  tidings  of  it  everywhere, 
not  only  through  the  religious  journals,  but  through 
the  various  channels  of  the  non-religious  press.  All 
related  the  event  with  sympathy,  and  had  some 
kindly  words  to  say  for  the  Mission  and  its  workers. 
The  death  was  spoken  of  as  no  common  one,  and  the 


400        MemoiJ''  of  Rev.  G,  T.  Dodds. 

Scottish  minister  well  described,  as  one  who  had 
really  given  up  his  life  in  the  prosecution  of  a 
noble  cause.  The  correspondents  of  the  different 
newspapers  gave  it  in  their  letters  as  a  piece  of 
mournful  intelligence.  The  correspondent  of  an 
Indian  journal  was  in  Paris  at  the  time,  and  writes 
his  impressions  of  the  funeral.  He  had  been  pre- 
sent at  a  funeral  in  the  beautiful  chapel  of  the 
"Russian  Embassy, — the  funeral  of  the  girl  who  shot 
herself  in  the  presence  of  the  Due  de  Morny.  The 
ritual,  he  says,  was  rich  and  impressive.  Piles  of 
flowers  covered  the  coffin  ;  hundreds  of  lights  ;  clouds 
of  incense ;  strains  of  melancholy  music.  The  chief 
mourner  was  the  man  who  had  cast  off  the  poor 
girl;  and  his  presence  made  the  scene,  however 
attractive,  loathsome.  So  it  appeared  to  the  corre- 
spondent of  the  Lahore  Gazette,  who,  having  wit- 
nessed this  gorgeous  mockery  in  the  morning,  was 
present  on  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  at  Mr. 
Dodds'  simple  but  solemn  funeral.    He  thus  writes  : — 

"  What  a  contrast  to  all  this  sickening  pomp  and  gorgeous 
ritual  was  another  funeral  that  I  witnessed  the  same  after- 
noon, amid  the  severe  simplicities  of  the  Protestant  ritual,  in 
the  Oratoire  of  the  French  Protestant  Church  !  There  lay  the 
remains  of  a  Scottish  clergyman  who  had  given  his  life  for 
France,  even  in  a  higher  sense  than  was  ever  done  by  the 
bravest  of  the  old  Scotch  Guard.  The  late  Mr.  Dodds,  of  the 
M^All  Mission  in  Paris,  was  a  man  who  might  have  taken  a 


Letters  of  Sympathy,  ,  40 1 

liigh  place  in  tlie  best  livings  of  his  native  Scottish  Church. 
But  he  had  consecrated  himself  to  the  unostentatious  labours 
of  the  Palis  Mission.  In  French  or  German,  as  readily  and 
as  fluently  as  in  English,  he  might,  every  day  of  the  week,  be 
found  at  his  post,  striving,  as  he  was  wont  to  phrase  it,  to 
win  souls  to  Christ  from  these  '  white  fields  of  France.'  He 
was  so  completely  exhausted  by  a  life  of  consecrated  toil  that 
he  speedily  succumbed  to  the  illness  from  which  the  rest  of 
his  family  recovered.  The  two  funerals  formed  almost  a  per- 
fect contrast.  The  ceremonials  in  church  could  not  have  been 
more  entirely  different  even  if  the  one  were  a  wake  and  the 
other  a  wedding.  And  just  as  entirely  different  were  the  two 
funeral  processions  through  the  streets  of  Paris.  To  the 
funeral  of  the  poor  young  actress  the  whole  strength  of  the 
Theatre  Frangais  turned  out  in  handsome  mourning  coaches, 
drawn  by  sleek  Belgian  horses.  And  all  the  way  to  P^re  la 
Chaise  there  was  all  the  pageantry  of  a  public  funeral.  The 
other  funeral  was  followed  by  a  couple  of  cabs  filled  with  the 
weeping  ladies  of  the  Mission,  while  a  long,  solemn  train  of 
humble  converts,  on  foot,  with  the  looks  and  tears  of  genuine 
sorrow,  brought  up  the  rear.  These  adherents  of  the  M'All 
Mission  were  but  as  yesterday  among  the  worst  of  the  danger- 
ous classes  in  Belleville  and  Montmartre.  Altogether,  it  was 
a  strange  and  suggestive  spectacle."  * 

From  America   came   numerous   letters.      I   can 
only  give  an  extract  from  that  of  Dr.  Beard : — 

To  Mr.  J.  Dickson  Dodds  jrom  Dr.  Beard. 

"  Syracuse,  Ith  November,  1882. 
"...  I  cannot  yet  write  concerning  your  brother  without 

*  From  the  Civil  and  Military  Gazette,  Lahore,  10th  November 

1882. 

2  D 


402        Me77toir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds, 


inexpressible  sadness.  The  mystery  of  Providence  as  the 
weeks  move  on  is  none  the  less  to  me.  We  came  into  close 
relationship,  when  your  brother  was  here,  in  the  plans  for  his 
daily  tours  and  conferences,  and  often  he  was  greatly  fatigued, 
as  we  all  were.  But  never  for  a  moment  was  there  any  modi- 
fication of  his  Christian  character,  and  no  variance — not  the 
slightest — from  the  constancy  of  his  nobility  and  the  beauty 
of  a  character  under  the  control  of  a  supreme  love  and  faith. 
We  were  together  most  intimately,  and  the  whole  intercourse 
and  companionship  was  unblemished  by  a  single  difference 
of  judgment,  or  by  a  word  that  we  could  have  wished 
recalled. 

"  I  never  witnessed  a  greater  fervour  of  devotion,  regulated 
by  cool  judgment  and  steadied  by  prayerful  purpose,  in  any 
man.  I  learned  to  know  as  well  as  to  love  him.  He  charmed 
every  one  by  the  felicity  of  his  interpretations  of  M.  K^veil- 
laud's  addresses.     They  were  somewhat  difficult  to  render. 

"  Dear  Mr.  Dodds  was  doing  the  work  of  many  when  I  was 
in  Paris.  I  expostulated  with  him,  but  his  heart  was  aflame 
with  zeaL  The  morning  he  left  for  the  country  where  he 
died,  he  wrote  to  me,  saying,  *  I  need  the  nst^  and  really  I  am 
far  from  well.' 

"  Oh,  he  was  a  noble,  splendid  man  !  I  count  it  among  the 
richest  inheritances  of  my  life  that  I  knew  him.  Often  his 
faith  made  me  ashamed  of  mine.  He  both  humbled  and 
inspired  me  by  his  consecration.  His  picture,  which  I  keep 
where  I  can  see  it  daily,  quickens  me  to  fidelity  and  earnest - 


From  Canada  came  the  following  from  Mr.  Heine, 
who  laboured  in  Paris  for  some  months : — 

"  How  well  I  remember  the  bright  moonlight  when  we 
i;v\^lked  across  Paris  from  the  Grenelle  Salle.     To  cheer  me, 


Letters  of  Sympathy.  403 


he  spoke  freely  of  the  perplexity  of  heart  he  sometimes  had 
felt  before  coming  to  Paris,  but  he  readily  and  gladly  bore 
witness  to  the  fact  that  the  Lord  had  opened  up  the  way  and 
made  all  plain,  and,  he  added,  '  The  Lord  will  do  the  same 
for  you,  fear  not.'  We  talked  of  the  Lord's  coming,  he  telling 
me  how  much  joy  he  had  in  looking  for  his  Lord  to  come  at 
any  time.     That  night  shall  not  now  be  forgotten  by  me." 


From  one  of  the  French  pastors,  M.  Degremont, 
came  the  following,  relating  to  Mr.  Dodds'  visit  to 
Boulogne  in  the  spring  of  1882 : — 

"  8^;^  October,  1882. 

"We  did  not  forget  at  our  meeting  the  stroke  which  has 
fallen  in  so  unexpected  a  manner  on  your  Mission,  and  the 
remembrance  of  several  evenings  which  Mr.  Dodds  had  been 
able  to  give  to  Boulogne  made  us  realise  more  the  greatness 
of  your  loss.  Some  who  attend  the  meeting  told  me  that  at 
his  last  visit  Mr.  Dodds  sang  the  Hymn  138  as  a  solo  and 
plnying  his  own  accompaniment.  The  impression  produced 
must  have  been  great,  for  on  my  return  from  England  these 
friends  begged  me  to  let  them  sing  this  same  hymn,  of  which, 
unfortunately,  I  had  not  the  music  at  that  time.  They 
repeated  their  request  lately ;  and,  thanks  to  the  new  edition  of 
your  hymn-book,  they  have  learned  this  hymn  which  they 
often  ask  me  to  sing.  They  call  it  now  'Le  Cantique  de 
Monsieur  Dodds. 

'"Cantique  138. 
"  '  Quandle  ciel  devient  menagant, 
Parle,  0  Christ,  O  mon  Roi. 
La  crainte  cesse  en  t'ecoutant : 
"  Eassurez-vous,  c'est  moi ! 

C'est  moi !  C'est  moi,'"  " 


404        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

From  two  letters  of  his  friend;  Mr.  Keene,  I  extract 
the  following  passages  : — 

"  nth  October,  1882. 
"  Away  from  home  in  London  we  lieard  first  of  the  terrible 
loss  of  your  beloved  husband,  my  dear  friend.  What  he  was 
to  me  in  kindness,  in  advice,  in  brotherly  affection  !  I  count 
it  one  of  the  greatest  blessings  of  my  life  to  have  met  him  and 
to  have  been  allowed  to  call  him  'friend.'  His  vigorous, 
self-sacrificing  life,  with  all  his  humility  and  gentleness  drew 
every  one  invariably  towards  him  and  made  one  long  to  be 
more  like  him.  I  have  not  yet  fully  realised  that  he  is  gone 
from  us,  but  I  found  in  trying  to  speak  to  my  people  (who  so 
short  a  time  ago  had  listened  to  his  words)  of  his  noble  life 
and  work,  how  great  a  loss  is  mine." 

Referring  to  the  time  spent  near  Liverpool : — 

"  2lst  December,  1882. 

"We  were  not  at  all  thrown  together,  but  I  occasionally 
met  him  at  Bank  House,  and  it  was  impossible  to  meet  him 
even  occasionally  and  not  discover  the  real  nobility  of  his 
character.  In  talking  with  him  he  drew  one  out  insensibly, 
and  made  one's  crude  remarks  the  germs  of  meditation  on 
something  good  and  great,  while  wonderful  appreciation  of 
others'  sorrows  showed  the  depth  and  kindness  of  his  heart. 

"  I  send  you  two  letters — what  a  characteristic  one  that  is 
from  Lyons  !  What  a  charming  correspondent  he  was.  A  letter 
from  him  was  indeed  like  talking  to  him  for  he  always 
answered  one." 

I  should  have  liked  to  print  several  of  his 
addresses;    but  space  limits  me.     They  are  full  of 


His  Way  of  Preaching.  405 


the  Gospel ;  yet  some  of  them  have  peculiar  subjects 
and  titles.  He  knew  how  to  tell  the  "  good  news  " 
and  to  show  how  a  believed  Gospel  brings  immediate 
peace,  without  waiting  or  working.  It  had  proved 
good  news  to  himself,  and  he  made  it  good  news  to 
others.  He  knew  also  the  French  character  and 
modes  of  thought,  and  he  suited  his  illustrations 
accordingly.  He  was  very  particular  about  this. 
He  must  not  only  tell  the  story  well,  but  he  must 
illustrate  it  carefully.  He  must  not  only  illustrate  it, 
so  as  to  suit  a  Scotchman's  line  of  thought,  but  so  as 
to  recommend  it  to  a  Frenchman's  taste.  Re  took 
great  pains  in  illustration,  feeling  how  much  of  the 
success  of  his  message  depended  upon  this.  To  get 
into  a  Frenchman's  conscience  was  his  great  object. 
To  please  him  cesthetically  by  well-drawn  pictures,  or 
by  preaching  a  Gospel  of  sweetness  and  beauty,  was 
a  secondary  thing. 

Sometimes  the  English  Bible  was  his  theme, 
making  use  of  the  rush  after  the  Revised  Version  as 
a  proof  of  the  wondrous  popularity  and  interest  of 
this  book,  which  Frenchmen  do  not  read.  Again,  he 
took  up  the  Bible  as  the  basis  of  American  prosperity; 
again,  the  "Pilgrim  Fathers;"  again  Chicago — its 
engineering  wonders  and  its  fire.  The  titles  of  some 
other  addresses  were  the  following : — 

Le  plaisir  est  il  I'objet  de  la  vie  ? 


4o6        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Docids. 

La  science,  est  elle  I'objet  de  la  vie  ? 

On  ne  se  moque  pas  de  Dieu. 

J^sus  Christ  ne  ressemble  a  aucun  homme. 

L'humilitie  de  Jesus  Christ. 

La  saintete  de  Jesus  Christ. 

La  spiritualite  de  la  religion  de  Jesus  Christ. 

La  lutte  interieure. 

It  was  not  usual  for  him  to  give  out  a  text  as  the 
basis  of  his  address.  He  had  a  text  in  his  own 
mind ;  but  it  came  last,  and  after  the  interest  of  his 
audience  had  been  worked  up. 

He  began  to  write  addresses  from  the  first ;  but 
sometimes  relieved  himself  by  reading  a  pointed 
tract ;  sometimes  he  gave  the  substance  of  a  book  he 
had  been  reading.  The  ''  Life  of  Livingstone  "  fur- 
nished him  with  many  a  lesson.  An  address,  of 
course,  would  serve  several  meetings ;  and  after  its 
delivery,  he  invited  the  criticism  of  his  fellow- 
workers,  that  he  might  perfect  his  style.  He  very 
soon  threw  aside  his  "  papers,"  for  he  found  that  a 
French  audience,  above  all  others,  must  be  attracted 
by  the  eye  of  the  speaker.  Though  he  soon  gained 
facility  in  speaking  "  extempore,"  yet  his  subject  was 
always  carefully  thought  out ;  and  his  addresses  were 
written  out,  though  only  in  outline.  The  filling  up 
with  life  and  fire,  or  it  miQ:ht  be  with  new  thouo^hts, 
was  reserved  for  the  delivery.     The  titles  already 


Titles  of  Adch^esses.  407 

given  are  general ;  but  the  usual  run  of  addresses 
was  pointed  and  telling,  such  as — 

Etes  vous  pret  ? 

La  porte  ^troite. 

Cherchez  I'Eternel. 

Le  besoin  du  pardon. 

Tresor  cach^. 

Douceur  de  Jesus  Christ. 

Venez  a  moi. 

Le  fils  prodigue. 

Le  bon  berger. 

He  preached  a  free  Gospel;  but  he  preached  also  an 
unchangeable  law;  and  dwelt  on  special  sins,  such 
as  he  knew  his  audience  specially  needed  to  be 
warned  against.  In  his  last  year  he  was  earnestly 
bent  on  explaining  to  his  people  the  great  truths  of 
the  Gospel, — atonement,  substitution,  and  the  like, — 
in  a  popular  form.  Every  illustration  that  he  could  lay 
hold  on  he  pressed  into  the  service,  anxiously  desirous 
that  the  souls  he  was  gathering  in  should  not  only 
know  the  Lord  Jesus,  but  be  able  to  give  a  reason 
for  their  faith  and  hope.  How  to  lead  on  those 
"  little  children  "  into  the  manhood  of  intelligence 
and  faith  was  a  difficult  problem,  and  one  which  he 
was  only  labouring  to  solve,  when  he  was  called  away. 
All  that  he  had  read,  in  science,  philosophy,  physi- 
ology, history,  was  laid  under  contribution,   in  the 


4o8        MemoiV  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


one  great  work  to  which  his  life  was  dedicated — 
lighting  up  the  mind  of  the  French  ouvrier  with  the 
knowledge  of  the  Gospel* 

His  daily  dealings  with  the  ouvriers  had  brought 
very  specially  under  his  notice  the  state  of  what  he 
calls  the  "  French  conscience,"  as  deadened  or  rather 
utterly  effaced  by  Popery.  He  found  he  had  no  con- 
science to  appeal  to  in  his  conversations  and  addresses. 
Rome,  as  he  tells  us  once  and  again  in  his  letters,  had 
done  this  deadly  work,  making  things  to  be  sin  which 
were  no  sin,  and  things  not  to  be  sin  which  were  sin. 
This  degeneracy  of  conscience  had  become  heredi- 
tary :  and  the  long-disused  moral  faculty  had  ceased 
to  exist,  had  dropped  out  of  the  system.  He  felt 
this  state  of  things  most  deeply,  and  was  greatly 
perplexed  how  to  meet  it.     Hence  a  good  deal  of  his 

*  He  dreaded  the  inroads  of  •'  free-thinking  "  among  the  converts, 
for  France  has  had  enough  of  unbelief.  Lovers  of  the  ancient  creeds 
need  to  be  on  their  guard  against  the  insidious  undermining  of 
modern  speculation,  whether  in  Scotland  or  in  France.  **  Advanced 
thought"  would  like  to  build  a  tower  of  Babel,  and  is  now  burning 
its  bricks,  or  rather  gathering  together  stones  from  all  heathen 
temples.  It  is  busy,  as  a  preliminary,  in  levelling  the  temples  of 
Christianity  and  clearing  away  the  Biblical  rubbish  which  occupies 
the  ground  at  present.  When  this  is  done,  we  shall  hear  the  old 
cry,  "  Go  to,  let  us  build  a  city  and  a  tower  whose  top  may  reach  to 
heaven."  How  far  they  may  be  allowed  to  proceed  in  this  work  of 
demolition  and  construction  before  confusion  overtakes  them  must 
be  decided  by  Him  whose  name  they  are  dishonouring,  and  whose 
Book  they  are  assailing.  Their  confusion  may  come  sooner  than 
they  think. 


Address  on  Justification.  409 

preaching  was  aimed  at  this  terrible  evil.  But 
I  may  here  ask,  is  it  Rome  only  that  has  tampered 
with  the  conscience  ?  And  is  not  the  tendency  of 
modern  thought  working  in  the  same  direction  ? 
The  annealing  of  the  conscience  by  unbelief 
produces  much  the  same  result  as  the  searing 
of  it  by  Romanism.  In  both  cases  the  difficulty  of 
reaching  it  is  great.  Self-satisfaction  is  the  hopeless 
condition  to  which  both  of  these,  though  in  different 
ways,  reduce  the  spiritual  system.  Deterioration  of 
conscience  is  a  more  disastrous  ailment  than  many 
may  be  disposed  to  admit. 

I  must  make  room  for,  at  least,  a  fragment  of  one 
of  his  discourses.  Its  title  is  "Justification."  He 
had  begun  by  drawing  a  vivid  picture  of  Paul, — a 
man  worthy  surely  to  be  heard  on  such  a  subject,  for 
the  ruling  thought  of  his  life  was  righteousness.  He 
paints  Paul  the  Pharisee, — righteous  as  to  the  law ; 
then  Paul  the  Christian, — his  whole  conception  of 
righteousness  changed  : — 

"  Oui,"  he  exclaims,  "  Oui !  nous  raffirmons,  a  haute  voix, — 
la  paix,  la  veritable  paix,  ne  peut  venir  des  oeuvres.  Si 
vous  restez  dans  I'indifference  et  dans  le  vague,  vous 
pouvez  etre  en  paix  comme  taut  d'autres  en  vous  disant 
que  vous  etes  un  honnete  homme,  &c.  ;  mais  pour  peu 
que  la  question  du  salut  yous  preoccupe,  jamais  vous  ne 
serez  tranquille  en  le  cherchant  dans  les  oeuvres,  car  vous 
craindrez  toujours  de  n'en  avoir  pas  assez  fait.    Voyez  ces  gens 


4IO        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 


qui  ont  passe  leiir  vie  a  se  torturer  d'austerites.  Leur  histoire 
n'est  qu'un  long  argument  centre  le  salut  par  les  oeuvres.  Pour- 
quoi  y  revenaient-ils  sans  cesse,  a  ces  aust^rites,  a  ces  tortures  ? 
Pourquoi  les  plus  pieux,  au  lit  de  mort,  auraient-ils  voulu 
vivre  encore  pour  se  torturer  encore?  Parcequ'ils  n'avaient 
pas  confiance,  au  fond,  en  I'efficacit^  de  ces  oeuvres  doul- 
eureuses.     Ah  s'ils  avaient  seulement  realist  ce  que  Dieu  dit  : 

" '  N'est-ce  pas  moi  I'Etemel !  II  n'y  a  point  d'autre  Dieu  que 
moi.  Je  suis  le  seul  Dieu'juste  et  qui  sauve.  Tournez-vous 
vers  moi,  et  vous  serez  sauv^s  :  vous  tous  qui  etes  aux  extr^- 
mites  de  la  terre.' 

"Dieu  sauve  et  Dieu  justifie  sans  les  CEUvres  par  la  mort 
salutaire  de  Jesus  Christ.  Etant  done  justifie  par  la  foi,  nous 
avons  la  -paix  avec  Dieu  par  J^sus  Christ  notre  Seigneur. 
Tin  regard  vers  Jesus,  un  regard  d^gag^  de  la  preoccupation 
des  oeuvres  vous  donnerait  plus  de  paix  que  cent  ans  d'oeuvres 
et  de  tortures. 

"  C'est  par  la  chute  d  un  seul  ou  par  I'offense  d'un  seul,  que 
la  condamnation  a  atteint  tous  les  hommes, — cZe  mimt  par  un 
s,e,u\  acte  de  justice,  la  justification  qui  donne  la  vie  s'etend  k 
tous  les  hommes. 

"  Un  seul,  la  justice  d'un  seul,  la  grace  d'un  seul,  I'obeissance 
d'un  seul — 4  fois  du  v.  15  au  v.  19  la  meme  idee  et  le  meme 
mot.  Essayez  de  trouver  la  une  place  pour  les  merites  des 
saints.  Voyez  si  St.  Paul  aurait  pu  mieux  dire  et  redire  que 
Jesus  est  seul  absolument  seul,  I'ouvrier  de  notre  salut. 

"C'est  par  grace  que  nous  sommes  sauves.  'Mais  si  c'est 
par  grace,  ce  n'est  plus  par  les  oeuvres,  car  autrement  la  grace 
n'est  plus  grace,'  Ah  cette  doctrine  r^pugne  a  Thomme 
naturel,  qui  ne  renonce  pas  facilement  a  compter  sur  ses 
oeuvres  :  mais  une  fois  comprise  elle  devient  la  source  des 
plus  pures  joies.  II  est  infiniment  plus  doux  de  se  sentir 
sauve  par  1' amour  de  Dieu,  et  par  le  sang  de  Christ,  que  de 
s'imaginer  qu  on  le  sera  par  soi-meme  et  par  ses  oeuvres." 


His  Library.  411 


For  a  young  man  he  had  a  remarkable  hbrary,  in 
some  respects  quite  unique.  When  the  French 
Churches,  on  his  return  from  America,  presented  him 
with  a  number  of  books,  chosen  by  himself,  his  selec- 
tion comprised  the  newest  books  of  Pictet,  works  on 
the  Indo-European  languages,  and  the  origin  of  history, 
Lenormant's  "  La  langue  primitive  de  la  Chald^e  et 
les  idiomes  touraniens,"  and  five  other  works  of  this 
same  author  connected  with  Oriental  philology ; 
Pictet's  "  Les  Origines  Indo-Europeennes  ou  les 
Aryas  primitifs ;"  Hovelacque's  "  L'Avesta,  Zoroastre 
et  le  Mazdeisme;"  Marius  Fontane's  "  Histoire  Uni- 
verselle  Inde  Vedique  ; "  Eichhoff  's  "  Grammaire 
Generale  Indo-Europeenne  ; "  Chabas,  "Etudes  sur 
I'antiquite  historique  ; "  Bernhardt's  "  Gothische 
Bibel ; "  Mosp^ro,  "  Histoire  Ancienne."  * 

These  are  but  a  few  of  the  many  peculiar  works  to 
be  found  in  his  library.  He  had,  indeed,  little  time 
for  such  studies  as  these  volumes  indicated.  Yet  he 
kept  up  his  philology  to  the  last.  During  the  last 
two  years  his  reading  was  chiefly  done  in  a  Paris 

*  Mr.  Greig  thus  writes  in  reference  to  these  matters  : — "  About 
his  philological  studies,  I  feel  scarcely  competent  to  speak  ;  a  glance 
at  the  list  of  books  he  took  out  from  the  University  and  New 
College  libraries  might  help  you  more  efficiently.  Besides  Muller 
and  Sayce,  he  read  Grimm,  Bopp,  Mazner,  Ficke,  Swegler,  and  a 
number  more,  whose  very  names  I  cannot  recollect.  Then  about 
Ulphilas,  he  read,  or  got  me  to  read  for  him,  literally  everything 
that  had  been  written  on  the  subject." 


412         Memoir  of  Rev.  G,  T.  Dodds. 

omnibus.  Even  at  night  he  would  secure  a  seat 
at  the  further  end  of  the  car,  close  to  the  lamp, 
where  he  sometimes  prepared  an  address,  and  some- 
times studied  some  rare  work  of  the  day ;  for  he  had 
his  eye  upon  all  new  publications  of  the  philological 
or  historical  kind.  He  kept  "  abreast "  with  litera- 
ture of  every  sort,  much  more  than  many  who  make 
it  their  boast  to  do  so.* 

He  laid  hold  on  every  volume  that  came  within 
his  reach,  though  but  for  five  minutes ;  and  he 
had  a  great  facility  in  mastering  the  contents  of 
a  book,  and  no  less  readiness  in  clearly  stating 
his  judgment  on  its  contents.  A  man  is  known 
by  his  hooks  as  well  as  by  his  friends.  By  both  Mr. 
Dodds  was  known.  No  less  was  he  known  by  the  books 
which  he  borrowed  from  acquaintances,  or  obtained 
from  libraries.  A  list  of  these  would  be  curious  and 
illustrative,  but  too  long  for  the  pages  of  this  volume. 

A  ministers  library  is  a  good  index  of  the  minister 
himself  Its  shelves  reveal  his  studies,  his  tastes,  and 
his  literary  habits,  and,  not  least,  his  spiritual 
condition.  Light  literature,  ephemeral  journals, 
novels,  newspapers  lying  on  his  table,  do  not 
indicate  the  student  or  the  man  of  thought.      And 

*  He  had  his  eye  on  all  missions,—  specially  in  the  revived  Churches 
of  Asia  Minor ;  keeping  up  correspondence  with  Djejigian  and 
Jacopian,  whom  he  had  met  in  Edinburgh.  The  French  mission  in 
Africa  also  engaged  his  interest  to  the  last. 


Farewell.  4 1 3 


when  a  young  man  begins  with  superficial  reading  he 
generally  goes  on  with  it  through  life,  or  rather  it 
grows  upon  him  till  it  becomes  a  serious  disease,  emas- 
culating his  intellect,  and  hindering  spiritual  progress. 
Mental  effeminacy  is  the  result;  an  effeminacy 
but  seldom  shaken  off  in  later  life,  if  permitted 
to  grow  in  youth.  The  power  of  robust  thinking 
diminishes  daily,  and  thorough  study  becomes  irk- 
some, if  not  impossible.  Mr.  Dodds'  table  did  not 
groan  under  the  weight  of  newspapers  or  the  flying 
journalism  of  the  day.  He  preferred  something  more 
durable.  Even  his  "home"  newspapers  sometimes 
lay  days  on  his  table  before  he  could  find  time  to 
read  them.  The  libraries  of  men  in  earnest  are 
generally  choice.  Literary  levities  do  not  help  them 
in  their  GREAT  life  mission. 

Farewell,  brave  soldier  of  the  cross !  Our  inter- 
course is  for  a  season  broken  up.  Our  walks  in 
the  Passy  wood,  or  the  Bois  de  Boulogne,  are 
at  an  end.  Our  voyages  on  the  quiet  Seine  are 
past ;  you  resting  from  your  labours,  I,  though 
more  than  twice  your  age,  to  remain  a  little 
longer  here.  Our  walks  on  the  green  "fortifica- 
tions," our  wanderings  through  the  intricate  alleys, 
in  which  you  were  my  guide,  or  the  pleasant  boule- 
vards, or  the  romantic  Buttes  de  Chaumont,  or  the 
sunny  St.  Cloud,  or  the  splendid  Versailles,  cannot 


414        Me7noir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodcis. 

now  be  repeated.  Thy  laborious  five  j^ears  in  the 
two  million  city  made  thee  thoroughly  acquainted 
with  every  street  and  lane, — not  going  in  pursuit  of 
pleasure,  but  seeking  the  lost  and  building  up  the 
gathered  ones.  Thou  restest  from  thy  labour ;  and 
it  was  not  too  soon.  For  few  have  known  so  fully 
what  toil  and  weariness  are.  Yes,  thou  restest,  and 
thy  works  do  follow  thee.  Paris  will  miss  thee  and 
will  long  remember  thee.  Not  many,  in  so  short  a 
time,  have  so  told  upon  the  spiritual  history,  or  made 
so  deep  a  mark  upon  the  religious  life  of  a  people. 

"Life,"  says  a  non-religious  writer,  "is  a  Divine 
matter,  of  sacred  significancy ;  each  life  a  wondrous 
verse  in  God's  Bible."  They  who  have  felt  the  truth 
of  this,  and  acted  on  it,  have  been  men  who  have  done 
something  for  their  world  as  they  passed  through  it ; 
they  who  have  never  realised  this  have  neither  done 
nor  spoken  great  things,  but  have  gone  through  their 
earthly  career,  it  may  be  idly,  it  may  be  busily,  with- 
out telling  upon  their  generation,  or  leaving  any 
brightness  behind  them. 

"  An  epistle  known  and  read  of  all  men  "  should 
every  Christian  reckon  himself  to  be.  "  Litera  scripta 
manet;"  and  the  best  of  letters  for  generations  yet  to 
come  is  the  legible  and  expressive  life.  The  story  of 
the  soldier  that  fell  in  the  breach  will  not  be  lost 
upon  the  comrades  who  survive. 


4 1 6        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 


Inscription  on  the  upright  stone : — 

GEORGE  THEOPHILUS  DODDS, 

Pasteur  Ecossais, 
CoUegue  du  Eev.  R.  W.  M^All, 
Dans  la  Mission  Populaire 
EvangeUque  cle  France. 
Oil  il  a  travaille  avec  un  devonement 
admirable,  pendant  cinq  ans 
pour  r^pandre  la  connaissance 
de  r  (^vangile. 
Ne  a  Lochee  (Ecosse)  le  2  Juin,  1850. 
Mori  a  Salbris  {Loir  et  Cher)  le  9  Sep.,  1882. 
Ses  coUaborateurs 
Et  plus  de  mille  personnes 
Qui  ont  entendu  ses  clialeureux  appels 
Ont  ^rig^  ce  monument  a  sa  memoire. 

On  the  horizontal  stone  : — 

Je  n'  ai  point  lionte  de  1'  4vangile 

de  Christ  puisque  c'est 

la  puissance  de  Dieu 

pour  le  salut  de  tons  ceux 

qui  croieut. 

S.  Paul.  Rom.  cli.  i.  v.  16. 

Cela    va  Men,  bon  et    fidele  serviteur.      Jesus    Christ. 

S.  Matt.  ch.  xxv.  v.  21. 

Heureux  les  morts  qui  nieurent  dans  le 

Seigneur.     lis  se  reposent  de  leurs 

travaux,  et  leurs  ceuvres  les  suivent. 

Apoc.  ch.  xiv.  V.  13. 

In  Jesu  Christo  Obdormivit, 


APPENDIX. 


ULPHILAS. 

'IS  monograph  on  Ulphilas  was  meant  for  publica- 
tion, and  perhaps  may  yet  see  the  light.  It  is 
very  elaborate  and  minute  ;  but  I  could  not  ven- 
ture to  give  a  specimen  of  it  here.  There  are,  however, 
several  important  letters  relating  to  it,  addressed  to  his 
friend  and  fellow-worker,  the  Rev.  C.  E.  Greig,  that 
I  should  like  to  print  as  an  appendix  to  the  present 
volume.  They  will  give  the  reader  some  idea  of  his 
philological  studies  and  acquirements  : — 

"  Lesnewth  Rectory,  Boscastle, 
Cornwall,  27th  April,  1875. 

"  My  Dear  Greig, — I  got  yours  yesterday,  and  was 
glad  to  hear  from  you.  I  am  in  such  an  outlandish  part 
of  the  world  that  I  hear  seldom,  and  at  long  intervals, 
from  anybody.  We  are  sixteen  miles  from  Launceston, 
whence  I,  having  come  by  train,  was  driven,  on  a  lovely 
moonlight  night,  through  a  wild  and  open  country,  till  we 
reached  this  charming  rectory,  considerably  after  decent 
evening  hours.  I  am  enjoying  my  stay  here  very  much. 
Such  a  rest  after  all  the  toil  and  lectures  of  the  session  ! 
I  must  congratulate  you  most  heartily  on  having  come 

417  2  E 


4 1 8         Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

off  with  first-class  honours,  and  hope  you  will  be  content 
with  these,  and  not  go  mad  after  philosophy.  About 
Sanscrit,  I  have  had  a  great  fancy  to  do  something  of 
that  kind  ;  and  I  think  that  we  may  manage  to  do  some- 
thing together.  But  you  are  mistaken  if  you  think  me 
fit  to  teach  it.  I  really  did  barely  any  work  for 
Aufrecht  after  I  was  so  knocked  up  in  the  end  of  Janu- 
ary. It  needed  no  end  of  application,  which  I  had  not 
strength  to  give.  However,  we  might  arrange  to  go 
over  Aufrecht's  notes,  which  are  very  good ;  and  then 
there  is  the  charm  of  philology  to  add  to  the  interest. 
So  we  shall  say,  *  Sidhis  Sadye,'  '  success  in  all  we  are 
to  do  j '  or,  if  you  are  heathenish  enough,  you  may  add, 
*  Prasadaltasya  Dhurjate,'  *  by  the  favour  of  Siva  ;'  only 
the  wish  cannot  be  brought  about  unless  you  can  pro- 
nounce these  ^good  old  Sanscrit  words'  correctly.  I  must 
not,  however,  make  you  think  that  I  have  a  great  deal  of 
time  for  it.  .  .  .  This  is  rather  a  romantic  place.  Arthur- 
ian legends  cling  with  tenacity  to  the  old  castles,  which 
are,  of  course,  more  rear  than  the  legends. 

'*  I  saw  some  old  crosses  the  other  day,  some  of  them 
more  than  1000  years  old.  A  Saxon  inscription  on  one 
was  interesting,  but  I  had  not  time  to  make  it  out.  One 
was  being  hewn  out  by  a  farmer  for  a  pig-trough ;  the 
marks  of  the  Yandal's  tools  are  very  visible.  At  the 
entrance  to  the  churchyard — the  lichgate  (Germ,  leich  = 
corpse) — the  old  stocks  are  laid  down,  in  which  defaulters 
were  held  fast." 

"Edinburgh,  16th  April,  1877. 
**  My  Dear  Greig, — I  set  off  this  morning  to  find  you, 


Appendix.  4 1 9 


but  failed.  Many  thanks  indeed,  for  your  letter.  You 
have  just  begun  where  I  had  reached  to,  and  your  results 
are  valuable  and  of  great  help ;  but  I  suspect  that  you 
too  may  have  to  give  in  to  Bessell's*  subtle  suggestions 
when  you  take  the  whole  and  look  at  it  as  one  proof,  the 
parts  of  which  are  mutually  related.  However,  I  am 
quite  determined  to  take  up  his  views  cautiously;  I 
think  that  there  is  too  much  of  what  the  French  term 
'plaidoyer'  in  his  method.  Waitzf  is  not  so  critical  as 
Bessell,  who  has  the  advantage  there.  At  the  same  time, 
1  feel  that  a  man  who  turns  up  and  proves  to  be  wrong 
most  of  the  contemporary  historians,  does  go  a  little  too 
far,  and  one  is  inclined  to  attempt  a  harmony  of  the  his- 
torians' views  rather  than  accept  Bessell's  emendations  in 
their  place.  I  am  sure  his  way  of  treating  the  question  of 
Ulfila's  nationality  at  the  end  of  the  book  is  most  unjus- 
tifiable, and  might  be  used  to  destroy  any  similar  evidence. 
I  will  let  you  have  Bessell  as  soon  as  I  have  finished  it. 
As  long  as  that  book  is  unfinished  and  uncomprehended, 
I  am  most  uncomfortable,  and  as  long  as  I  delay  finishing 
it,  the  rest  of  the  work,  with  the  exception  of  the  part  on 
the  language,  is  delayed ;  so  I  must  set  to  and  finish 
this.  I  have  a  good  deal  in  my  head  about  the  use 
of  the  word  *  Naseins  '  and  '  Nasjands '  — '  Salvation  ' 
and  '  Saviour.'  It  has  struck  me  very  much  how  the 
idea  of  salvation  being  health  took  hold  of  the  Teutonic 
mind.  Even  in  the  passage — '  His  name  shall  be  called 
Jesus,'  the  Saxon  gospels  put  Hjelend,  and  never  use, 
except,  it  may  be,  in  one  or  two  solitary  instances,  the 

*  Ueber  das  Leben  des  Ulfilas,  Gbttingen,  1860. 
t  Ueber  das  Leben  des  Ulfilas,  Hann.,  1840. 


420        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds. 

name  Jesus,  but  always  Hselend;  of  course  it  is  the 
Greek  %akhg,  and  Sanscrit  kalyas,  literally  and  pliilo- 
logically  healthy ;  cf.  hale,  hallow,  whole — where,  by-the- 
by,  the  *w'  should   not   be,   or,  if  written,  should   be 

*  hwole ' — Chaucer   *  hool,'    and    has    also    '  halwes  '   for 

*  saints;'  Scottice,  Hallows,  in  'All-Hallows  eve.'  But 
what  is  interesting  is,  that  it  shows  not  only  their  idea  of 
salvation,  but  throws  much  light,  in  a  philological  point 
of  view,  on  the  theological  subject  of  holiness.  I  have 
often  thought  of  writing  an  article  on  the  relations  of 
Theology  and  Philology.      Regarding  holiness,  compare 

*  Salvus,'  Sanscrit  '  Sarva '  (r  =  1),  Persic  Harva  ;  have 
these  any  connection  with  o7^og,  solus  1  If  I  remember, 
Aufrecht  thought  they  had,  also  with  these  cou^w,  cwii;, 
eooTTj^ia,  with  sanus,  sundheit,  sound,  and  back  again  to 
Gothic  ^niscm,^  to  heal,  Germ,  genesan.  What  is  most 
notable  in  the  whole  is  that  holiness  is  '  separation 
from,'  isolation ;  and  so  health  is  separation  from  disease, 
from  the  unhealthy;  and  so  to  be  holy  is  to  be  separate. 
*Eor  their  sake  I  sanctify  myself.'  I  suspect  Hebrew 
would  yield  much  the  same ;  *  ciyiog '  would  also  :  what 
about  osiogi  Does  it  strike  you  that  rs/xsvog,  templum,  a 
grove  or  a  temple,  is  a  piece  of  land  cut  off,  separated  ; 
and  so  a  temple  is  holy  1  How  often  the  idea  recurs  ! 
What  do  you  think  of  this  *?  It  is  a  vein  that  might  be 
worked. — I  wrote  to  Bagster  that  it  could  not  be  ready 
till  June,  so  if  you  come  here  in  June  I  shall  have  a  good 
deal  of  stuff  for  you  to  examine,  I  only  hope  it  won't 

be     '  unthoroughfaresome.'      D proposed     that    I 

should  write  to  Upsala  where  the  silver  Codex  is,  and 
ask  for  a  rubbing  on  tissue  paper  of  the  embossed  por- 


Appendix,  421 


trait  on  silver  of  Ulfila  !  and  put  it  at  the  beginning  of 
the  volume.    Nous  verrons,— Yours  ever  very  sincerely." 

"  12,Td  May,  1877. 
''^  My  Dear  Greig,— I  have  been  very  busy  with  divers 
subjects  and  questions,  and  what  with  visiting  and  exhort- 
ing confirmed  drunkards,  and  warning  others  that  show 
evidence  of  having  almost  undergone  that  episcopal  rite, 
and  finally  with  sermonising,  and  reading  Gothic  litera- 
ture, I  am  hard  up  for  time.     My  experiences  regarding 
XJlphila  have  been  somewhat  after  the  fashion  of  '  O'er 
hills,  o'er  dales,  o'er  rocks,  o'er  crags,  I  go.'     It  is  truly 
a  hilly  country,  and  one  can  almost  feel  the  necessity  of 
'living  a   hundred    winters,'  as  these  sturdy  Teutonic 
Aryans  expressed  it,  for  the  completion  of  such  an  inves- 
tigation.     I  think  you  will  change  your  mind  on  reading 
the  whole  of  Bessell.     I  don't  see  how  you  can  safely  form 
so  decided  an  opinion  as  you  gave  after  reading  only  a 
part.     There   is   much   said   afterwards   which   is   very 
clear.     One  thing  damages  Waitz  :   it  is  pretty   evident 
that  Maximinus  searched  the  Codex  Theodosianus  for  the 
laws,  not  knowing  which  to  take,  and  even  changed  them 
to  suit  his  purpose  ;  and  again,  Bessell  pretty  well  shows 
that   Philostorgius    is    after    all     the    most    accurately 
informed    on    Ulfila's   life,  and   its   epochs    and  events. 
Though  Bessell  is  very  arbitrary  in  rejecting  Philostor- 
gius' statement  of  the  Cappadocian  origin  of  Ulfila.      I 
have  got   Massmann  on  the  '  Skeireins,'  a  first-rate  book. 
You  seemed  to  think  that  Eadand  might  lead  to  the 
admission  that  there  was  no  forensic  element  in  the  salva- 
tion plan.     Now  what  has  that  to  do  with  justification 


422        Me7now  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

any  more  than  (rurri^,  or  cou^w,  or  Cwr^j^/a — the  forensic 
element  is  found  in  dtxaioffvvTj  ;  the  Gothic,  e.g.,  in  Luke 
vii.  29,  is  '  Domidedun  Guth,'  *  justified  God,'  i.e., 
recognised  and  declared  Him  just.  Domjan  is  not  only 
to  'think  one  just,'  but  to  declare  and  give  the  privilege 
oi  justificatio7i.  I  do  not  see  how  any  Anglo-Saxon  idea 
of  a  forensic  nature  could  be  shown,  or  any  prejudice 
against  it  involved,  in  the  choice  of  such  a  word  as 
Hseland.  Such  a  conception  is  confined  in  the  Greek  to 
a  different  class  of  words,  and  so  it  would  not  be  granting 
anything  to  M.  Arnold  to  say  that  Hseland  is  not  a 
forensic  term,  it  would  be  tantamount  to  granting  that 
the  word  Arnold  itself  was  not  forensic ;  but  perhaps 
I  don't  see  what  you  are  driving  at.  Would  you  like 
Bessell  1  if  you  could  abstract  part  of  it,  it  would  be  of 
the  greatest  service  to  me.  I  have  gone  over  it  most  care- 
fully, and  though  the  whole  question  is  not  easy,  he  has 
the  weight  of  evidence — well,  I  shall  only  say  probability 
— on  his  side." 

*'  Edinburgh,  20^A  July,  1877. 
"  My  Dear  Greig, — I  got  your  note  this  morning ; 
your  news  is  cheering  and  reassuring.  I  shall  try  and 
have  the  opponent  of  the  '  privat-docent '  Waitz  abstracted 
also,  and  we  shall  have,  I  hope,  an  expiscation  of  the 
mystery.  I  shan't  be  sorry  if  we  can  get  a  good  fling  at 
Bessell  for  his  audacity  and  refined  ingenuity.  I  hope 
also  to  have  the  notes  about  'Hseland'  and  'Hallow,' 
and  'nasjan'  done.  I  am  going  to  write  to  Aufrecht 
about  some  of  these  '  good  old  vords  '  he  used  to  declaim 
to  me  in  his  private  room,  but  I  want  to  hear  some  more 


Appendix.  423 


of  them.  I  find  in  a  book  bj  Schoebel,  *  La  Religion 
premiere  de  la  race  Indo-Iranienne,'  that  Persian  'harva,' 
Skr.  *  sarva/  Latin  *  salvus,'  Greek  '  IXog^  signifying  in 
all  'completeness,'  'perfect  isolation/  was  used  in  the 
Persian  word  '  haurvatat,'  '  immortality,'  which  shows 
how  the  root  branches  off  into  another  idea  than  salvus^ 
though  here  there  remains  a  similarity  also. 

"  Do  you  think  that  there  is  a  connection  between 
hs')(0[Lcii  2iiidi  hixccio6\)vyi'\  It  might  be  shown  thus:  'dico' 
(•i.e.,  'deico'  in  old  Latin)  is  Greek  '  ds!xvv/j^i';  the  idea  of 
pointing  or  showing  giving  rise  to  saying  '  diKcciog '  is 
'straight,'  indicating  the  right;  cf.  our  'righteousness' 
— the  same  root  is  in  '  ds^tog  '  the  right  hand,  with  which 
one  points;  but  it  is  also  in  '  hsyoij^ai^  to  take,  to  receive 
—  the  hand  we  take  with  being  the  'right  hand'  (in  fact, 
I  suppose  Ki'/oijjai  is  our  '  take,'  according  to  Grimm). 
Do  you  think  this  is  made  out  %  I  have  not  got  Curtius 
to  verify,  but  my  object  is  to  lead  to  a  comparison  be- 
tween 'a  justified  man,'  '  3/xa/oc:,'  and  '  5sxrog,'  approved 
(Phil.  iv.  18  ^u(r/av  ^sxr^ji/),  and  then  to  the  opposite 
'■  aU%i(Log'  'reprobate,'  'rejected.'  I  don't  know  that  I 
shall  get  Ulfila  dragged  into  this,  but  it  would  be  a  good 
illustration  of  the  connection  of  philology  and  theology  ; 
the  same  might  be  done  for  the  Indian  and  Persian 
(Iranic)  idea  of  '  holiness '; — our  white  being  '  Spento  ' — 
S  =  H.,  p  =  V  (n  having  crept  in)  we  have  Gothic  'Hweits.' 
I  pray  you  to  put  a  bridle  on  any  of  these  speculations  if 
they  need  it,  but  I  think  they  are  so  far  correct.  Ever 
your  very  sincere  friend." 


424        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

"MiLLDOWN,  COLDINGHAM, 

Berwickshire,  Wth  August ^  1877. 
"My  Dear  Greig, — I  came  here  last  Thursday,  half 
dead  with  packing  and  thinking,  and  have  got  quit  of 
Edinburgh  for  a  while;  am  in  despair,  having  lost  all 
this  week  with  ague  and  intermittent  fever — my  old 
enemy;  slowing  recovering,  and  turning  my  attention 
to  Ulfila.  I  enclose  Aufrecht's  letter.  Isn't  it  a  high 
honour  to  be  asked  by  a  philologue  of  European  fame  to 
go  to  the  Western  Islands  and  Shetland^  probably  he 
intends  to  bore  the  inhabitants  about  '  good  old  vords,' 
and  make  researches  into  the  etymology  of  '  fey.'  You 
will  be  amused  at  his  saying  that  he  has  his  own  ideas  as 
to  the  etymology  of  'Guth,'  but  he  has  not  published 
them  yet ;  but  he  is  no  worse  than  KrafFt,  whose  name 
should  be  English  in  its  meaning,  out  of  whom  it  seems 
impossible  to  get  any  information  as  to  why  he  has 
changed  his  views  from  318  to  313,  and  not  to  311  a.d,, 
though  he  has  read  that  '  privat-docent's '  lucubration.  I 
am  glad  that  he  gives  a  more  satisfactory  derivation  for 
'  nasjan,'  as  I  always  felt  that  the  comparison  of  sa-nus 
(Ta-o;  and  sound,  and  nasjan  was  far-fetched.  Curtius 
gives  v£-o-/xa/,  vi(S-6-o-ijjai,  i/oV-rog,  which  means  *  heimkehr,' 
a  name  for  death  among  Northmen.  Nsfr-rw^  is  *  f  iihrer ' 
or  *heimfiihrer,'  a  fine  touch  of  feeling. 

"  Could  you  send  me  your  abstract  or  extract  of  Bessell 
and  Waitz,  to  be  here  by  Thursday  1  I  should  be  much 
obliged,  as  I  must  begin  to  do  something  to  that  part. 
Do  you  know  anything  about  the  use  of  vo^rog,  or  con- 
nected verbs  in  Greek  prose  :  what  is  Nestor's  exact 
mythological  position '?     You  can  return  Aufrecht's  note 


Appefidix.  425 


when  you  like — that  is,  when  you  have  laughed  over  it 
and  laid  up  in  memory  these  roots.  I  hope  you  are  well, 
and  enjoying  a  rest." 

The  note  of  Aufrecht's  referred  to  contains  the  fol- 
lowing sentences : — 

"  Hailyan  is  the  literal  rendering  of  Salvare,  as  hail  of 
salvus.  Salvus  and  wllus  are  okog,  Skr.  sarva,  Zend 
hawrva.  Salus — 'tis  as  in  Sansk.  sarvatat,  Zend,  hawr- 
vatat,  integrity.  8olus^  alone,  has  nothing  in  common 
with  salvus.  ,   There  is  no  etymology  for  sarwa. 

"  Nothing  that  is  in  any  way  probable  has  been  pro- 
duced about  the  etymology  of  Guth.  The  word  was 
originally  a  neuter,  which  is  remarkable.  It  has  nothing 
in  common  with  gods,  or  giidh,  or  xsu^w,  still  less  with 
chota.  I  have  my  own  ideas  about  it,  but  have  not 
published  them  yet. — Yours  truly, 

"H.  AUFRECHT." 


"MlLLDOWN,    COLDINGHAM,    BY  AyTON, 

\lth  August,  1877. 

^'  My  Dear  Greig, — I  thank  you  very  much  indeed 
for  your  thorough  work,  and  most  kind  help — the  abstract 
is  capital ;  both  I  shall  find  most  useful,  and  shall  make 
an  elaborate  acknowledgment  of  your  services,  somewhere 
between  the  beginning  and  end  of  the  book  !  If  Aufrecht 
had  only  given  me  a  tithe  of  the  help  you  have  given 
about  Guth  I  should  be  content. 

"  I  am  in  rather  a  bad  temper  with  my  ague,  having 
lost  ever  so  many  days  thereby.     As  to  the  etymologies 


426        M 67710 ir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

of  Guth  which  Aufrecht  floors,  I  drew  up  the  list,  which 
makes  it  all  the  more  mournful.  He  had  no  scruple  in 
denying  each  of  my  suggestions,  but  would  suggest  nothing 
in  return.  Pictet  in  the  2nd  volume  of  '  Les  Aryas 
Primitifs  ou  Les  Origines  des  Indo-Europ^ennes '  gives 
a  list.  He  says  there  is  no  co-relative  in  Oriental  tongues 
(Aryan)  to  Guth,  except  it  may  be  the  Persian  choda. 
Burnouf  refers  to  Zend  qadhata,  i.e.,  cree  de  soi-meme 
=  Skr.  svadata ;  but  Gothic  '  g '  cannot  correspond  to 
Zend  'q'  or  Skr.  *sv.'  Pott  gives  Guth,  cf.  Skr.  root 
9udh  =  purificari,  but  this  would  be  '  hud '  in  Gothic, 
according  to  Grimm.  Pictet  hazards  Skr.  gudh  =  guh 
=  Grk.  x£u^-,  tegere,  i.e.,  God  a  hidden  being,  and  also 
compares  Guth  and  root  of  '  to  sacrifice,'  ^uw  ;i/£uw  ^frjj^, 
Gothic  giutan,  to  pour  out  (German  giessen),  and  so  on  ; 
but  these  I  think  are  far-fetched.  Do  you  know  Pictet  1 
it  is  a  splendid  work  ;  what  he  says  on  the  religion  of 
the  primitive  Aryans  is  very  good.  I  'm  awfully  ignorant 
of  the  numerals  and  their  philology  ;  hope  to  see  you  at 
Lochee. — Ever  yours  very  truly,  &c." 

Post-card  of  19th  September  : — 

"  St.  Andrews. 

"  My  Dear  G., — Mrs.  D.  came  yesterday,  and  brought 
your  letter  and  your  *■  screed,'  which  is  very  good,  and 
worthy  of  a  better  name  :  if  I  were  remaining  in  this 
country  you  and  I  would  turn  out  another  Gabelenz  and 
Loebe,  and  write  conjointly  on  Wulfila  !  Atta  is,  I  think, 
an  onomatapoetic ;  I  mean  an  infantine  sound,  like  Abba. 
So  Adelung  thinks  in  his  Mithridates,  but  he  is  anti- 
quated.    I  shall  make  a  last  effort  to  dispoye  of  Wulfila 


Appendix.  427 


completely,  and  likely  shall  take  the  MSS.  with  me  to 
London  to  Bagster.  After  I  have  once  corrected  the 
proof-sheets  in  Paris,  I  shall  leave  it  mostly  in  your 
hands,  and  you  can  put  in  any  etymologies  you  like  !  " 

The  letter  of  15th  October  is  the  most  important,  as 
showing  the  state  of  his  work  just  before  leaving  for 
Paris  : — 

"  My  Dear  Greig, — You  will  think  me  an  ungrateful 
scoundrel,  but  I've  been  mentally  and  heartily  blessing 
you  again  and  again  these  few  weeks  past.  I  wish  to 
let  you  know  how  matters  stand.  I  have  been  subject 
to  endless  interruptions,  and  in  the  prospect  of  soon 
going  off  am  doubly  busy,  and  often  with  anything  but 
Wulfila.  But  the  state  of  progress  is  this  :  I  've  finished 
WulfilaJs  life^  rather  carefully  done  in  scroll-pencil,  twenty- 
six  pages  of  common  essay  paper,  I  fancy,  because  it  is  on 
rough  long  sheets.  I.  've  got  about  fifty  on  the  state  of 
literature  among  the  Goths  (the  question  whether  Wulfila 
invented  the  A  B  C  or  not,  and  all  connected  with  it), 
the  various  MSS.  and  their  history,  which  is  a  most 
engrossing  part ;  then  a  general  review  of  the  Version, 
its  peculiarities,  excellencies,  the  genius  of  the  language, 
its  graphic  expression,  its  Greek  order  and  idiom,  the 
sources  he  drew  from,  &c.  &c.  I  have  still  to  write  the 
philological  discussion  on  special  Gothic  words  used  to 
express  theological  ideas,  but  that  is  already  in  notes, 
and  its  place  is  well  in  my  mind ;  that  may  come  to  forty 
pages  more.  I  've  got  an  account  of  the  Skeireins,  and  a 
discussion  on  its  authorship.     Then,  considerable  notes 


428        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds, 

on  the  Goths  j  their  origin ;  Christianity  among  them ; 
their  Arianisra.  These  notes  are  still  to  be  reduced  to 
a  scroll,  and  the  discussion  on  Bessell  and  Waitz,  which 
I  regard  as  very  important  as  an  Erkldrung  on  the  whole 
question,  is  still  to  be  written,  but  that  is  at  my  fingers' 
ends.  So  that  the  book  will  contain,  according  to  an 
approximate  reckoning : — 

Pages. 
"  The  Goths'  History  and  Religion,     ...     35 
Christianity,    Introduction    among   Goths,    in- 
cluding their  Arianism,     .  .  .  .20 
Waitz  and  Bessell,  A  Discussion,      .         .         .20 

Life  of  Wulfila, 25 

Introduction  to  Bible  Version,  General  Exami- 
nation   of,  and   Estimate ;   Discussion   of 

Words, 80 

The   Arianism  of   Wulfila  from  the  Version, 
Skeireins,  and  other  Sources ;  Auxentius ; 
Kraff't's  'De  fontibus  Arianismi  Wulfila,' &c.,    30 
As  this  is  a  narrow  computation,  add        .         .10 


220 


That  is,  of  essay  paper  at  least  200  pages,  it  may  be 
boiled  down  to  150  in  print.  Now,  my  idea  is  this. 
I  cannot  get  it  finished  before  going  to  France.  Whether 
is  it  better  to  finish  completely  what  I  've  got  so  far, 
i.e.,  write  out  for  MSS.  what  I  have  in  scroll,  or  write 
as  much  in  scroll  here  as  I  can,  and  copy  out  in  Paris  1 
I  think  the  latter  I  must  adopt.  I  '11  find  time  to  copy, 
but  not  to  study  in  Paris  :  indeed  I  fear  I  may  have  to 


Appendix.  429 


study  for  the  first  chapter  at  least.  Now,  I  should  have 
liked  to  have  put  some  in  your  hands  before  I  went 
away,  but  since  I  do  not  expect  to  do  that  now,  I  let  you 
know;  and  my  proposal  is,  that  when  I  send  it  from 
Paris,  you  take  it  under  review,  and  while  I  correct  the 
proof  sheets  at  least  once,  you  will  also  keep  an  eye  on 
it  going  through  the  press. 

"  I  had  no  idea  that  it  was  a  work  of  such  labour  and 
research.  But  though  I  am  vexed  at  its  being  so  late,  I 
am  determined  it  shall  not  be  half  done,  or  imperfectly. 
I  wish  it  to  be  complete  as  far  as  possible,  and  I  think 
I  '11  manage  it  with  your  help.  I  think  it  might  be  out  in 
February,  1878.  I  am  in  great  haste,  and  must  stop. 
I  'm  waiting  results  and  news  from  France  before  I  know 
when  we  shall  go.  Your  MS,  in  the  Magazine  is  very 
suggestive,  and  very  good.  I  '11  send  it  soon.  I  've  partly 
taken  a  hint  from  it,  and  from  Max  Miiller,  and  prepared 
an  account  of  the  Goth's  life,  and  habits,  and  civilisation, 
&c.,  from  the  Version  alone." 

From  Paris : — 

"  Really  I  find  that  being  here,  and  in  such  work,  one's 
mind  and  heart  are  truly  enlarged.  I  am  not  a  whit  less 
a  Presbyterian,  but  I  am  more  and  more  disposed  to  sink 
those  matters  which  so  much  divide  us  at  home,  and  to 
join  with  every  evangelical  Christian  who  is  seeking  to 
advance  our  Redeemer's  kingdom.  Here  the  elements 
of  primitive  Christianity  come  more  into  light  and  pro- 
minence, and  we  have  less  of  the  sterile  features  of  relig- 
ious controversy. 


430        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

"  I  am  not  inclined  to  talk  about  Wulfila  just  now,  and 
I  have  not  much  to  say.  I  have  not  got  it  looked  at 
since  I  wrote,  and  none  of  it  is  in  a  fit  state  for  publica- 
tion." 

To  his  brother  : — 

"  Uh  April,  1878. 

"  No  -one  could  be  more  sorry  than  I  am  about  Ulfila, 
but  it  is  unavoidable.  Settling  down  and  learning  my 
work  shoved  every  other  thing  out  of  the  way,  and  week 
after  week  I  expect  to  begin,  and  then  engagements  turn 
up,  and  nothing  is  done.  It  would  be  impossible  to  pub- 
lish what  I  have  just  now.  Only  one  chapter  is  written, 
the  rest  and  most  important  part  is  entirely  in  notes. 
One  cannot  publish  on  a  subject  like  that  what  is  dis- 
jointed and  imperfectly  arranged.  The  philological  and 
critical  would  not  tolerate  it. 

"  Now  that  my  labours  are  less,  I  hope  to  get  it  looked 
at,  and  a  little  done  day  by  day." 

I  give  in  a  note  here  the  following  fragment  of  a  letter 
regarding  Ulfilas,  though  it  is  out  of  its  proper  date.* 

Apart  from  philology,  the  different  branches  of  sciences 
were  taken  up  by  him. 


*  "ToRev.  T.  B.  D." 

"  27th  March,  1877. 
'•  UlfiTa  makes  progress,  but  there  is  much  to  be  done.  His  word 
for  Redemption  is  Faurbauht — forbought  ;  '  He  forbought  us.' 
For  Justification  or  justify,  the  word  is  Garaihts  domjan,  to  deem 
or  judge  righteous,  a  striking  proof  that  he  knew  what  forensic 
justification  meant. " 


Appendix.  43 1 


Chemistry  was  a  great  subject  of  interest  to  Mm  at  one 
period. 

Among  letters  referring  to  his  studies  when  with  Mr. 
Wood's  family  is  one  to  his  sister,  half  amusing,  half 
instructive.     It  is  dated : — 

"Bank  House,  Maghull, 
Friday,  Ylih  November,  1871. 

''  Did  I  ever  tell  any  of  you  about  a  moonstone  which 
I  took  away,  and  which  Mrs.  Wood  has  offered  to  get  set 
for  me  as  a  Christmas  present  ? 

"  It   seems   that   moonstones,    agates,    and   opals   are 
crystals  which  have  become  combined  with  water — the 
name  of  all  these  jewels  is   '  silicon,'  or  they  may  be 
called  each  a  'silicate.'     An  amethyst  is  a  silicate  coloured 
by  some  organic  matter,  or  it  would  be  quite  colourless. 
When  the  amethyst  is  brown  it  is  known  as  a  cairngorm 
stone.       When   they   have  lost   their    transparency    or 
brillancy  they  are  called  calcedony  and  carnelian — that 
shows   that   some   iron   has   found   its    way  into  them. 
The  onyx,  which  makes  cameos,  is  another  kind  of  silicate 
with  water  in  it.      Agaiu,  flint,  that  hard  substance,  is 
just  silicon  with  some  colouring  substance.     Sand  is  silicon 
in   powder;  white  sand  is  purest,  and  where  it  has  a 
yellow  or  brown  colour  it  is  owing  to  oxide  of  iron.     If 
you     have    ever     noticed    houses    built    of    sandstone, 
coloured  or  stained   in   a   very   ugly   manner  here  and 
there,    you    may    be   sure   iron   is   in    the   stone,    and 
has   done   it.     You   would   hardly   think   that   flint   or 
silicon  is  found  in  many  plants,  especially  grasses  and 
cereals — that  is,   wheat,  barley,  &c.  :    it    can   easily  be 
seen  by  looking  at  the  outer  sheaths  of  the  stems — you 


432        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

will  observe  shining  particles,  which  are  silicon,  or  flint, 
or  sand ;  so  that  flint,  which  is  a  very  hard  substance, 
and  forms  the  greater  part  of  the  rocks,  is  also  found  in 
the  frail  and  tender  grass  or  reed.  It  is  a  remarkable 
provision  for  plants,  for  soils  in  which  these  cereals  grow 
are  found  to  contain  a  great  amount  of  silicon  ;  and  this 
proves  that  silica,  so  hard,  is  yet  soluble,  for  plants  never 
absorb  through  their  capillary  vessels  substances  which 
cannot  be  dissolved.  Silica  is  found  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  hot  springs,  and  coats  the  earth  round  about  with  a 
layer.  Silica  or  sand,  of  course,  makes  glass,  and  glass 
when  it  cools  is  known  to  be  good  by  its  not  crystallis- 
ing. In  some  bad  glass  it  does  so,  and  then  the  glass 
becomes  dark  and  opaque.  So  you  see  what  a  curious  thing 
this  silicon  is — how  it  is  so  hard  as  to  scratch  glass,  and 
yet  is  so  soft  under  certain  conditions  that  it  can  be 
obtained  in  the  form  of  a  jelly  ! 

"I  think  you  should  be  able  to  understand  all  this 
lecture,  which  I  am  going  to  give  to  my  pupils  in  time ; 
you  have  got  it  first.  I  hope  your  German  is  prospering. 
I  have  been  reading  in  philology  a  good  deal,  and  may 
give  you  the  results  of  my  reading  by-and-by.  What 
would  you  think  is  the  derivation  of  '  bed-ridden '  %  I 
havn't  time  to  give  you  it  fully,  as  it  is  close  on  post 
time.  You  should  study  that  book  you  have,  '  Craik  on 
the  English  Language,'  well,  especially  the  specimens  at 
the  end  of  Old  English.  Also,  if  jou  could  get  hold  of 
'  Trench  on  Words '  you  would  find  it  very  interesting, 
or  '  Max  Miiller's  Lectures  on  the  Science  of  Language.' 
I  must  stop,  and  with  love  to  all. — Ever  your  affectionate 
brother." 


Appendix.  433 


II. 

I  add  in  this  Appendix  some  miscellaneous  letters 
which  I  omitted  in  their  proper  place  : — 

"  Newhaven,  Conn.,  U.S. 

Monday,  10th  October,  1880. 

''  My  Dear  Father  and  Mother, — You  should  have 
had  a  second  letter  much  sooner  than  this,  but  travelling 
has  been  incessant,  and  I  have  had  so  little  sleep  that  I 
am  glad  to  tumble  into  bed  whenever  I  can.  M;  old 
enemy — ague — came  on  rather  severely,  with  con^  ant 
sick  headache  and  disgust  at  food,  and  I  feel  ver .  far 
from  well.  At  Norwich  I  saw  a  doctor  who  wished  me 
to  rest,  but  I  said  I  should  first  try  his  medicine  ;  and 
for  the  first  time  since  landing  I  feel  clear  about  the 
head  and  free  from  fever. 

"  We  are  here,  Eeveillaud  and  I,  staying  with  Dr. 
Bacon,  the  Nestor  of  New  England  Congregationalism,  a 
fine  old  man,  seventy-nine  years  of  age,  but  as  lively 
and  active  as  a  boy,  with  a  wonderful  memory  and  keen 
intelligence.  He  is  a  well-known  author  and  a  religious 
poet.  This  is  the  city  where  Yale  College  stands,  the 
oldest  University,  and  wearing  already  a  look  of  anti- 
quity which  is  rarely  met  with  in  this  new — and  often 
bran-neiu — world.  They  gave  us  a  reception  in  the 
chapel  of  the  College  on  Saturday  evening ;  we  met  many 
distinguished  men.  Dr.  Noah  Porter,  a  well-known 
writer  on  mental  science ;  Professor  Fisher,  whose  books 
on  the  Reformation  and  the  beginnings  of  Christianity 
are  exceedingly  good.     I  met  also  Professor  Weylland, 

2  F 


434        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

son  of  the  Weylland  whose  book  on  '  Mental  and  Moral 
Science '  was  not  so  long  ago  used  and  approved  in  Scot- 
land ;  and  I  spoke  last  night  with  E-eveillaud  in 
Dr.  Todd's  church  (he  is  a  son  of  the  well-known  Dr.  John 
Todd,  the  writer  of  books  for  children),  a  queer  sort  of 
man,  with  all  sorts  of  machines  in  his  house,  telegraph, 
telephone,  &c.  To-day,  I  've  been  dining  with  Professor 
Whitney,  the  first  of  the  few  philologists  whom  America 
has  produced.  I  found  him  a  most  interesting  man; 
he  knows  Aufrecht,  under  whom  I  studied  in  Edin- 
burgh ;  and  so  we  fraternised.  I  got  many  questions 
answered ;  he  is  a  very  learned  man. 

"The  American  churches  are  large  and  well  attended. 
They  have  organs  and,  generally,  a  paid  choir ;  some  of 
their  sopranos  and  contraltos  get  immense  salaries.  One 
is  paid,  in  Dr.  Taylor's  Tabernacle  in  New  York,  about 
<£100  I  think,  and  is  driven  at  the  church's  expense  to 
the  church  from  her  home  every  Sunday  morning.  The 
choir  sing  solos  and  quartettes,  and,  altogether,  it  is  a 
kind  of  theatrical  performance  in  a  church, — which  I  donH 
like,  however  artistic  and  perfect  may  be  the  singing. 
The  congregation  join,  however,  in  the  common  singing, 
though  at  other  times  they  are  content  to  be  sung  to. 
Yet  many  of  the  Congregational  ministers  are  good  men 
and  faithful  pastors.  I  attended  the  meeting  of  their 
Board  for  Foreign  Missions  at  Lowell,  and  liked  it  better 
than  the  Philadelphia  Council,  where  there  was  really 
too  much  disposition  to  joke  and  to  exalt  Presbyterianism. 
At  Lowell,  there  was  great  earnestness  and  deep  interest 
in  the  work  of  missions,  and  in  the  speeches  an  assertion 
pf  crthocloxv  which  was  refreshin^:. 


Appendix.  435 


"  We  spent  a  Sunday  in  Providence  ;  it  is  a  fine  old 
town.     On  the  Sunday  afternoon  we  drove  to  Pawtucket, 
an  Indian-named   suburb,   and  tliere  had  a  large  con- 
gregation, and  one  meets  generous  and  unbounded  hos- 
pitality everywhere.     I  enjoyed  much  being  at  Norwich, 
The  charm  of  these  American  '  cities '  comes  from  the 
houses  being  so  scattered,  that  when  looked  at  from  a 
height  you  do  not  see  buildings  crowded  together,  but 
white-painted  houses  surrounded  with  trees,  and  occupy- 
ing double  the  space  which  any  English  town  of  the  same 
size  would  fill.     At  Norwich,  the  lowlands  and  clifis  and 
forest  were  in  a  glory  of  autumn  tints, — the  maple  was 
sometimes  of  a  light-pale  yellow  colour,  oftener  as  red  as 
fire,  and  variegated  with  every  shade  between  these  two. 
The  hill  behind  was  a  perfect  mass  of  colour, — maples, 
and  hickory,  and  feathery  beeches,  and  white  and  black 
oak.     When  the  sun  set  over  the  brow  of  the  hill,  which 
was  covered  with  d^rk  pines,  I  understood  what  I  have 
often  heard  of  the  beauties  of  an  American  '  Fall.'     I 
found  a  most  exquisite  gentian,  with  long  petals  fringed 
at  the  edge,  and  folding  up  in  a  spiral  form  in  the  evening. 
The  sassafras  was  in  abundance, — a  scented  plant,  wrongly 
called  scented  fern,  and  another  myrtle-looking  bush  from 
which  bay-rhum  is  made;  the  berries  yielded  wax,  of  which 
the  Jesuits  who  came  to  America  long  ago  made  candles 
for  their  altars,  considering  it  a  most  wonderful  provi- 
dence that  such  a  thing  should  be  conveniently  at  hand  ! 
"At  a  missionary  meeting  at  Norwich,  General  Arm- 
strong exhibited  twenty  or  thirty  Indian  boys  and  girls 
whom  he  had  received  from  savagery,  and  is  educating 
to  useful  trades  and   Christianity.     The  Jewish  faces  of 


436        Memow  of  Rev.  G.  T,  Dodds, 

some  of  them,  especially  the  girls,  struck  me  much.  They 
repeated  tho  23rd  Psalm  in  English,  and  then  two  of 
them  spoke  by  the  sign-language.  I  could  see  the  draw- 
ing of  a  bow,  and  fitting  the  arrow  to  it,  and  the  act  of 
scalping.  It  seems  that  often  this  is  the  only  mode  of 
communication  among  the  tribes,  who  do  not  understand 
each  others'  dialect.  They  can  talk  for  hours  in  this 
fashion  without  uttering  a  syllable.  The  Roman 
Catholics  build  splendid  churches,  but  the  free  atmos- 
phere of  the  Eepublic  is  modifying  the  power  of  the 
priests  to  a  considerable  extent,  which  may  well  explain 
the  statement  of  an  Irish  bishop,  that  he  feared  the 
emigration  of  the  Irish  most  of  all  for  his  Church." 

In  December  he  thus  writes  : — 

*'We  left  New  York  after  a  week  of  tremendous 
work;  here's  an  outline  of  it: — On  Monday,  the  13th 
December,  we  left  Mr.  Jessup's,  where  we  had  been 
dining,  and  started  for  Boston  at  10.30.  Arrived  in  the 
morning,  wrote  letters,  lunched  with  Mr.  Kimball,  an  old 
friend  of  Mrs.  Lundie  Duncan,  went  to  see  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Perkins.  Mr.  Perkins  took  us  to  see  the  Boston  Museum, 
which  is  a  fine  building,  built  partly  in  stone  and  coloured 
bricks ;  it  is  a  sort  of  Byzantine  stone ;  he  is  one  of  the 
directors,  and  was  a  capital  guide.  There  is  a  very  fine 
collection  of  Egyptian  antiquities ;  one  thing  struck  me 
very  much,  the  'robe  of  justification,'  which  the  dead  put 
on  when  they  entered  the  j  udgment  hall  of  truth.  It  was 
coarse,  white  linen.  "What  is  the  origin  of  such  an  idea  % 
Renouf,  the  Egyptologist,  says  that  their  first  religion 
was  monotheistic,  quite  against  the  modern  theories  of 
man's  descent,  or  rather  ascent,  from  a  savage  worshipping 


Appendix.  437 


a  fetish.  After  dining  with  the  Perkins',  off  to  our  meet- 
ing in  Phillips  Brooks'  Chapel,  then  off  to  New  York. 
We  went  to  Philadelphia,  returning  on  Saturday  morning 
again  by  train,  arriving  about  seven.  .  .  .  On  Thursday 
to  New  York.  Went  to  a  clergyman's  meeting — Pres- 
byterian, and  a  select  affair;  they  call  it  'Chi  Alpha.' 
It  meets  every  Saturday  at  five  in  private  houses.  Most 
of  the  notable  New  York  clergymen  were  there — Dr. 
Schaff,  Dr.  Shedd,  Dr.  John  Hall,  Dr.  Taylor,  and 
others.  After  translating  for  P.,  I  addressed  them  on 
'  How  we  preach  in  Paris,'  giving  them  an  outline  of 
Theodore  Monod's  address  on  '  Jesus  lai'que,'  which  was 
much  appreciated.  I  see  that  our  way  of  going  to  work 
has  something  fresh  and  new  in  it  even  for  those  enter- 
prising Yankees.  On  Sunday  we  had  three  services — 
in  the  morning  in  the  Church  of  the  Covenant,  Dr.  Yin- 
cent's,  where  we  got  700  dollars.  Mr.  W.  E.  Dodge,  a 
well-known  New  York  citizen,  took  us  to  his  house  to 
lunch.  He  is  a  good  man, — a  great  deal  of  the  quiet, 
refined  English  gentleman ;  a  great  temperance  advo- 
cate. In  the  afternoon  we  crossed  to  Brooklyn,  and 
spoke  in  Mr.  Cuthbert  Hall's  church.  Our  M'All  Mis- 
sion has  a  flourishing  Auxiliary  in  Mr.  Cuthbert  Hall's 
church,  formed  by  Miss  Beach ;  and  I  met  all  the 
'  M'All  ladies,' — as  we  call  them  in  Paris.  In  the  even- 
ing I  spoke  alone  in  a  Dr.  Wilson's  church  :  the  very 
image  he  is  of  Theodore  Monod,  of  Paris.  R  had  a  large 
audience  to  speak  to  in  the  French  Episcopal  Church. 
The  Episcopalians  have  given  us  a  very  warm  welcome. 

"  We   arrived   in  Washington  on   Monday  morning. 
But  it  was  a  very  unfavourable  day  for  seeing  the  capi- 


43  S        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

tal ;  for  hardly  had  we  breakfasted  with  Dr.  Child s  when 
it  began  to  snow,  and  snowed  heavily  all  day,  blinding 
everything  and  drifting  everywhere.  However,  we  went 
out  first  to  see  the  White  House.  We  had  an  introduc- 
tion to  the  President;  but  he  was  absent.  I  should 
have  liked  to  see  Mrs.  Hayes,  of  whom  every  one 
speaks  well.  Garfield,  the  new  President,  who  does  not 
enter  into  office  until  March,  is  said  to  be  a  decided 
Christian. 

"  The  White  House  is  a  very  ordinary  building. 
America  has  not  yet  got  the  style  of  royalty;  but  I 
liked  the  '  Blue  Room.'  There  was  an  unmistakable 
odour  of  tobacco-smoke,  though  I  was  told  that  smoking 
was  prohibited.  Perhaps  it  was  the  ghosts  of  former 
cigars,  though  the  smell  was  only  in  the  lobbies.  These 
new  State  buildings  are  fine,  and  the  architecture  chaste 
and  beautiful.  The  pillars  all  round  at  the  entrance  had 
capitals  of  the  simplest  but  most  exquisite  design. 
I  wish  I  could  reproduce  it,  it  struck  me  as  so  beautiful. 
Thereafter  we  went  to  the  Capitol,  and  saw  both  the 
Senate  and  House  of  Pepresentatives ;  and  in  the  first 
I  heard  their  three  best  speakers.  .  ,  .  They  accentuate 
their  words  too  much,  even  the  smallest,  and  the  result 
is  a  continual  unchanging  sound  on  one  note  at  one 
pitch,  with  none  of  the  easy  fiow,  or  climax,  or  melody 
in  enunciation  so  necessary  to  oratory.  It  is  because 
the  French  do  not  accent  their  words,  but  their  sen- 
tences, that  their  language  is  so  oratorical.  Even  when 
Peveillaud  spoke  by  translation  he  was  elegant.  Every 
sentence  was  climactic,  however  small ;  it  rose  as  it  went 
on  to  the  end. 


Appendix.  439 


"  The  Americans  in  their  Senate  and  House  of  Represen- 
tatives would  need  to  observe  the  canon  '  decently  and  in 
order,'  the  page-boys  sat  on  the  edge  of  the  president's 
platform,  indulging  in  fun  and  fights  of  their  own,  rushing 
about  among  the  members,  one  of  whom  I  saw  whacking 
one  of  the  boys  on  the  back  with  a  roll  of  journals,  and 
behaving  as  if  they  were  anywhere  else  than  in  the  chief 
court  of  the  nation !  The  members,  too,  whirled  about 
in  their  revolving  chairs,  and  rolled  cigars  in  their  mouths 
(not  being  allowed  to  light  them),  and  kept  clapping  their 
hands  to  call  the  pages,  which  peculiar  custom  we  unin- 
itiated creatures  thought  to  be  perpetual  applause. 

"  You  '11  think  me  very  critical,  but  I  find  such  a  mix- 
ture of  all  things  in  America,  which  is  quite  natural  in  a 
people  who  try  everything,  and  seem  to  have  money 
enough  to  do  so. 

"  Washington  is  a  city  of  '  magnificent  distances,'  as 
the  Americans  say,  and  I  should  have  liked  to  stay 
longer  in  it,  but  after  one  or  two  meetings  (one  of  the 
Ladies'  Association  for  our  Mission)  we  started.  I 
remained  in  my  sleeping-car  at  Philadelphia  till  about 
seven,  when  I  got  up  to  find  my  way  to  Dr.  Ott's  house. 
He  is  a  Southerner  and  a  good  man.  He  was  conduct- 
ing family-worship  and  catechising  his  four  or  five  boys 
about  *  Ole  Saul,'  which  epithet  father  and  sons  used 
with  equal  indiflference.  We  had  our  meeting  in  Trinity 
Episcopalian  Church ;  it  gave  me  an  opportunity  of 
getting  the  Episcopalians  interested  in  our  work.  Then 
I  lunched  with  Mrs.  Marine  J.  Chase,  the  president  of 
the  M'AU  Auxiliary.  She  stays  with  Dr.  Lea,  a  well- 
known  man  in  the  scientific  world,  especially  as  a  concho- 


440        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

legist,  a  fine  old  man  of  eighty-nine  years  of  age,  a 
Quaker.  There  are  many  of  them  still  in  Philadelphia, 
wearing  the  dress  and  keeping  up  the  same  habits.  I 
love  that  quiet  Quaker  city,  although  its  people  may  be 
slow  and  not  easily  waked  up.  I  should  like  to  live 
there. 

"  Then  I  left  for  New  York  in  time  to  dine  at  Pro- 
fessor Charlier's,  who  has  been  our  host  all  along  and 
very  kind.  Then  off  to  our  farewell  meeting  held  in 
the  Y.M.C.A.  Hall.  We  had  a  strong  suj^port  from 
the  principal  men  in  New  York.  Dr.  Storrs  made  a 
most  eloquent  speech,  and  altogether  it  was  a  very  good 
meeting.  We  have  succeeded  in  exciting  a  good  deal  of 
nterest  in  France,  which  will  not  die  out,  and  some- 
thing permanent  will  be  done  to  send  aid.  We  have 
made  and  left  friends  wherever  we  have  been.  Our 
secretary,  Dr.  Beard,  has  done  all  that  could  be  done." 

A  year  later  he  thus  writes  : — 

"  GUILLESTRE,  HaUTES-AlPES, 

Wednesday,  lith  September,  1881. 
"  My  Dear  Father  and  Mother, — You  will  have  got 
my  card  from  Dormilhouse ;  but  I  must  send  a  fuller 
account  of  my  sojourn  in  this  Alpine  department  of 
France.  It  was  on  Friday  last  week  when  I  left  Cler- 
mont-Ferrand, at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning.  It  is  a 
much  easier  thing  to  go  from  Paris  to  Gap  than  from 
Clermont-Ferrand,  as  my  route  lay  across  country,  so 
that  I  did  not  reach  Gap  till  Saturday  at  eleven,  having 
got  to  Lyons  on  Friday  between  two  and  three,  and  wait- 
ing there  till  eleven  at  night.     I  spent  the  intervening 


Appendix.  44 1 


hours    with  Mr.    Simpson,    the  pastor   of    the   English 
church.     When  T  got  to  Grenoble,  at  half-past  five  in 
the  morning,  I  had  to  change  for  Gap,  but  the  early- 
moving  about  was  nothing  to  go  through,  for  the  route  is 
magnificent  and  the  air  pure  and  bracing.     It  is  a  good 
height  above  the  sea  and  above  Lyons,  at  Gap,  and  the 
mountain  chains  that  rise  up  to  the  higher  Alpine  sum- 
mits in  the  Hautes-Alpes,  are  a  sight  never  to  be  for- 
gotten.    I  saw  a  bright  sunrising  over  their  grey,  rocky 
flanks,  lighting  up  a  most  beautiful  and  peaceful  valley. 
It  was   all   most  enjoyable,  except  that  I  always  find 
pleasure  in  this  region,  and  specially  in  the  districts  far 
removed  from  busy  teeming  towns  like  Paris  or  Lyons, 
alloyed  though  it  is  with  the  painful  thought  that  the 
Gospel  is  unknown,  and  that  especially  in  this  part  of 
France,  it  has  been  quenched  with  the  blood  of  many 
martyrs.     I  found  Reveillaud  and  Pastor  Schell  waiting 
for  me  at  Gap,  once  a  Roman  town,  Yapincum, — a  good 
philological  example  of  the  change  of  '  V '  into  G.     We 
dined — a  very  good  dinner — at  the  Hotel  de  la  Poste, 
and  soon  after  we  set  off"  in  the  diligence  for  St.  Laurent, 
one  of  the  parishes  of  Felix  Neft  s  diocese ;  we  had  met 
an  old  pupil  of  Neff"  in  Gap,  and  he  was  to  tell  the 
pastor  of  our  coming.     It  rained  very  heavily,  and  we 
were  on  the  imioeriale;  yet  the  heavy  covering — '  bache' — 
which  they  stretch  over  the  roof,  raised  like  a  tent,  kept 
us  from  being  wet ;  the  driver,  who  turned  out  to  be  a 
Protestant,  covered  our  knees  with  his  great  coat,  and 
thus  equipped  we  crossed  the  '  Col '  or  neck  of  the  ridge 
of  mountains  which  lay  between  Gap  and  St.  Laurent. 
They  put  us  down  at  an  '  oratoire,'  after  a  long  drive, 


442        Memoir  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

that  is  a  sort  of  broad  pillar,  with  a  recess  iii  it,  and  a 
grating  over  it  containing  a  saint;  the  Catholics  place 
these  oratoires  and  often  crosses  besides,  all  over  this 
country,  wherever  there  are  Protestants  especially.  A 
little  further  on  we  found  one  of  these  crosses,  a  cock  on 
the  top,  a  head  of  the  Christ  in  the  centre  crowned  with 
thorns,  a  sword,  hammer,  ladder,  rod  with  sponge,  nails, 
cfecy  all  over  the  wood,  planted  in  1859.  They  tried  to 
plant  one  at  Dormilhouse, — a  wholly  Protestant  village, 
in  1864 ;  the  bishop  went  up  with  a  procession  to  do  the 
thing  solemnly  ;  the  pastor  gathered  the  entire  popula- 
tion into  the  church,  which  was  once  a  Roman  Catholic 
church  (the  fount  for  the  'eau  benite'  is  still  shown), 
and  placing  himself  against  the  door  talked  to  them  till 
the  bishop  had  finished  his  work,  The  people  obeyed 
him,  but  they  were  so  enraged  that  it  is  a  question  if  tlie 
bishop's  life  would  have  been  safe.  The  pastor  entreated 
them  also  not  to  touch  the  cross,  but  that  night  it  was 
taken  away, — no  one  ever  knew  how,  or  by  whom,  and 
the  pieces  of  it  were  never  found.  So  much  for  the 
missionary  zeal  of  the  Catholics.  We  reached  St. 
Laurent  soon  after,  and  were  met  by  Pastor  Charpiot,  a 
most  venerable  old  man,  who  welcomed  us  very  warmly, 
and  gave  us  dinner ;  he  is  seventy-five  years  of  age,  and 
is  there  only  until  his  son,  who  is  nominated  to  the 
cliarge,  comes  to  replace  him.  But  we  were  very  tired, 
and  soon  went  to  bed  to  sleep  soundly  till  morning,  when 
the  good  man  appeared  again,  bringing  me  a  bit  of  soap 
and  a  mirror  not  one-third  the  size  of  this  page.  We 
went  to  church  at  ten  o'clock,  in  the  schoolroom,  as  a 
new  "  temple  "  is  being  built ;  the  room  was  full  and  the 


Appendix.  44^ 


lobby  also.  T  shall  never  forget  that  service,  the  atten- 
tive devout  congregation,  the  plaintive  singing  of  the  old 
Huguenot  psalms  and  hymns :  had  it  not  been  for  the 
language,  and  to  a  very  limited  extent  the  dress,  I  could 
have  imagined  myself  in  a  Scotch  church  at  Yarrow,  or 
in  the  Highlands.  Reveillaud  spoke,  and  I  also  addressed 
them,  telling  them  of  our  persecutions  and  our  Church. 
Many  of  them  came  to  us  at  the  end  to  shake  hands, — 
grave,  dignified,  intelligent,  and  determined  men.  What 
France  has  lost  in  driving  out  thousands  like  these,  no 
one  can  tell.  One  of  them  drove  us  back  to  Gap,  at 
least,  so  far  as  the  summit  of  the  ridge,  for  Reveillaud  had 
a  meeting  at  Gap  that  evening.  We  walked  the  rest  of 
the  road,  talking  on  all  subjects,  and  specially  on  Roman 
Catholicism,  which  Reveillaud  analysed  and  commented 
on  as  only  a  converted  Catholic  could  do.  As  we  went 
to  our  hotel  we  saw  a  French  '  charletan,'  haranguing  a 
crowd  on  the  merits  of  his  panacea  from  his  gilded  car- 
riage, a  clever  rascal,  and  as  impudent  as  clever :  but 
both  Reveillaud  and  I  agreed  that  if  some  evangelists 
would  only  put  half  the  energy  and  determination  of 
this  scamp  into  their  addresses,  their  work  would  be 
more  fruitful  and  more  joyful. 

"  We  had  a  queer  meeting  in  the  evening  in  the  Cafe 
du  Cerale;  the  men  and  women  were  round  the  table, 
smoking  and  drinking ;  however,  they  stopped  while 
Reveillaud  spoke  and  told  them  truths  they  had  never 
heard  before,  with  a  vigour  and  eloquence,  in  classic 
French,  all  extempore,  leaning  on  the  back  of  a  chair, 
such  as  they  had  certainly  never  heard  from  '  cure '  or 
*  conferencier.'    Gap  is  a  clerical  town,  and  even  thoss  who 


444        MemoU'  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Dodds. 

hate  the  priests  are  afraid  to  do  anything.  They  were 
caught  that  night,  and  forced  to  listen,  whether  they 
would  or  not. 

"  We  left  Gap  that  same  evening,  or  rather  Monday 
morning,  at  half-past  twelve  o'clock,  and  journeyed  all 
night  in  the  diligence,  which  had  a  coupe,  an  interieur, 
and  a  rotonde ;  we  were  in  the  interieur,  and  slept 
part  of  the  way,  but  that  was  not  very  easy,  and  I 
awoke  every  now  and  then  to  call  Eeveillaud's  atten- 
tion to  some  magnificent  views  in  the  clear  moonlight, — 
often  of  a  small  village  nestling  among  trees  at  the  foot 
of  a  great  mountain,  a  wild  rocky  torrent  running  along 
our  course  all  the  way,  on  which  the  moon  shone,  darting 
in  streaks  of  light  across  the  current,  or  resting  on  the 
dark  deep  pools.  It  was  light  very  early,  and  we  had  a 
magnificent  drive  in  the  lumbering  diligence  until  we 
got  to  La  Roche,  where  we  got  out,  as  we  were  going  to 
the  Val  de  Fressinieres ;  but  first  of  all  we  had  break- 
fast, melon,  omelette,  squirrel,  and  mutton  chops,  cooked 
in  a  dirty  inn,  but  very  good  for  hungry  travellers ;  I 
forgot  to  add  that  M.  Keveillaud  made  me  eat  saucisson 
d'ane,  and  said  that  our  interior  was  becoming  a  Noah's 
ark,  when  we  got  to  the  squirrel,  which  was  very  good 
and  like  rabbit. — Here  I  began  this  letter,  and  lo,  it  must 
be  finished  in  Italy. 

"  Our  ascent  to  the  Valley  of  Fressinieres  was  very 
pleasant ;  it  was  a  bright  afternoon,  there  are  few  parts 
of  Switzerland  finer  than  these  valleys  of  the  Hautes 
Alpes,  so  seldom  visited.  I  did  not  wonder  that  the 
French  Yaudois  chose  this  valley  for  their  refuge. 
Coming  up  the  valley  of  the  Durance  from  Gap,  none 


Appendix.  445 


would  ever  imagine  that  a  wide  fertile  valley  lay  behind 
the  mountain,  any  more  than  when  in  Fressinieres  one 
would  imagine  that  there  was  also  the  Yalley  of  Dormil- 
house.     We  soon  found  our  way  to  Pallons,  where  the 
minister,  M.  Brunei,  stays,  though  his  church  is  at  Les 
Yiolins,  a  little  distance  further  on.     He  has  a  '  Salle 
de  culte '  at  Pallons,  and  a  church  at  Dormilhouse,  and 
in   winter   the    distances    are    not    only    difficult,    but 
dangerous,  so   that   his   pastorate  is  one  of  self-denial. 
I    had   a   letter    from    Mr.    Lundie,    and    Reveillaud's 
name    was    enough ;    besides,    M.    Dardier    of    Geneva 
had   preceded  us  and   announced  our  arrival.      So  we 
had  a  cordial  welcome.     He  was  alone  (M.  Brunei) ;  his 
wife,  and  children  being  away  in  the  north  of  France. 
The  pastors  are  not  at  all  what  we  would  call  well  off, 
but  a  committee  at  Lyons  and  English  friends  have  done 
something  for  them,  and  altogether  their  position  is  much 
better  than   it  was  in  Felix  Keff's  time.     He   died  at 
his  post,  of  hardships  endured  in  his  too  extensive  diocese. 
M.  Brunei's  preshytere  is  large  and  beautifully  situated, 
looking  towards  the  range  of  Alps  towards  Embrun.    He 
has  a  large  garden  in  which  apples,   pears,  and   plums 
grow  in  great  abundance,  and  even  melons,  and  cucumbers, 
and  grapes.   In  this  way  they  eke  out  their  living,  and  that, 
even  when  they  are  poor,  is  not  difficult.    He  has  got  a  cow, 
and  can  get  a  mule  from  his  parishioners,  but  that  is  one 
side  of  the  picture  only.     I  must  give  you  the  other  in 
another  letter.     It  is  better  this  should  go  to  you  un- 
finished, as  it  is,  than  that  I  should  delay  any  longer. 
We  stay  here.  La  Tour  or  Torre  Pellici,   till  Monday 
morning,  when  we  go  to  Turin,  and  then  to  Briangon,  on 


44^        Memoir  of  Rev.  G,  T.  Dodds. 

our  way  to  Clermont-Ferrand  and  Paris  respectively. 
Keveillaud  is  asleep,  and  I  got  none  last  night,  having 
had  to  fight  a  useless  battle  with  an  unseen  enemy.  My 
love  to  all  of  you — of  whom  I  often  think  in  these  my 
journeyings.  Deus  noster  nos  custodivit ;  henedicatur 
nomen  ejus. — Your  ever  loving  son, 

"  George  Theos.  Dodds." 


LORIMER  AND  GILLIES,  PRINTERS,  31  ST.   ANDREW  SQUARE,  EDINBURGH. 


EKRATUM. 


At  page  258,  the  Latin  quotation  should  run  thus 
"  Hie  cestus  artemque  repono." 


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